2 weeks Ago By Derek Rose
The Australian share market has begun the new year with some modest gains. Near noon AEDT on Thursday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 15.8 points, or 0.
19 per cent, to 8,174.9, while the broader All Ordinaries had gained 13.4 points, or 0.
16 per cent, to 8,433.5. Seven of the ASX's 11 sectors were higher, with consumer staples and health care slightly lower, and consumer discretionary and utilities basically flat.
Energy was the biggest gainer, up 0.7 per cent as Woodside and Santos both added 0.8 per cent.
The big four banks were having a quiet day, with ANZ down 0.2 per cent, NAB up 0.1 per cent, and Westpac and CBA both flat.
In the heavyweight mining sector, BHP and Rio Tinto were up 0.6 per cent, while Fortescue had climbed 2.6 per cent.
Uranium developer Deep Yellow was the biggest gainer in the ASX200, rising 4.7 per cent, with peer Paladin close behind with a 3.2 per cent rise.
The Australian dollar was buying 62.10 US cents, from 62.13 US cents at Tuesday's ASX close.
On Wednesday, it dropped as low as 61.83 US cents - its first time under 62 US cents in 26 months..
