A recovery in mining stocks helped the Australian market inch higher for the first session in four this morning.
At lunchtime the ASX 200 was up 14 points or 0.3% at 4415 as BHP and Rio Tinto clawed back some of this week's heavy losses. The metals & mining sector rallied 1.7%, materials 1.5%, gold 3% and energy 0.6%. However, financial stocks were down 0.1% and Telstra touched an all-time low as this week's earnings outlooks continued to weigh.
Asian markets were mostly weaker in morning trade. Japan's Nikkei was off 0.29%, Shanghai 0.2% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng 0.26%, but some of the minor markets rallied. Dow futures were recently at a mildly bullish +37 after three days of falls.
Crude oil futures recouped some overnight losses, rising 43 cents this morning to $76.33 a barrel. The spot gold price was 50 cents stronger at $1,214.40 an ounce. The Aussie dollar was modestly higher against the major currencies, recently buying 89.97 U.S. cents.
A low-key morning here ahead of an early mark for a trip to Orange wine country. Just two trades: TLS and FXJ on the bounce. Have a good arvo, guys. See you same time, same place next week.
