Thanks Tweets. Half-time round-up:Australian shares are higher...

Thanks Tweets. Half-time round-up:

Australian shares are higher for the first morning in six after most regional markets strengthened and US futures crept up.

At lunchtime the ASX 200 was ahead 6 points or 0.13% at 4815 as gains in the big banks, Telstra and property trusts offset a soft session for most resource stocks. Defensive sectors including health and utilities weakened and the Australian dollar rallied, signs that risk appetite may be returning after a week of steady falls.

"It's had a pretty rough week and there's not a lot of turnover," EL & C Baillieu Stockbroking director Richard Morrow told Fairfax. "We've had a good reporting season, but not great."

Oil recouped some overnight losses this morning after US officials dismissed rumours that Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi had been shot. The rumours were said to be partly responsible for a sharp sell-off in oil overnight. Crude futures rallied 70 cents this morning to $97.16 a barrel. Gold also pared overnight losses, rising $3.30 to $1,402.30 an ounce.

Asian markets were mostly higher this morning. Japan's Nikkei added 0.22% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng 0.56%. Shanghai declined 0.71%. Dow futures were recently at +37. The dollar was buying US $1.0117.


Nice to see a glimmer of green at the end of a big red week. Been a good one for my trading account, with opportunities aplenty through the middle of the week. Slower going these last two days as the market feels around for a bottom. STX provided a wage this morning and I added few BAS. Went bottom-hunting in PBG - was a day early with QAN yesterday, could be the same here.