Stocks jump across sectors...

BANK and energy stocks kept the share market in positive territory at noon despite a negative lead from the US.

Resources stocks were the main drivers but the big banks were also adding support, Aequs Securities dealer Ric Klusman said.

At 1200 AEST, the S&P/ASX200 was 28.4 points stronger at 4419.2 while the All Ordinaries Index was up 26.1 points at 4376.9 On the Sydney Futures Exchange, the December share price index contract was up 20 points at 4419.

Today's strength in the local market was a surprise given the US market was down overnight, Mr Klusman said.

"The Australian dollar is up, gold is up, oil is up and US bonds blew out badly so you would have thought our market would be down or square," Mr Klusman said.

"But I guess gold and oil prices are keeping the resources up.

"There are small ups on the banks and a bit better bounce on the resources, particularly the oils, supporting the market at the moment."

Overnight on Wall Street, stocks finished lower following a report showing an unexpected fall in consumer confidence.

The Dow Jones closed 7.13 points down at 10,377.87, Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 2.84 points to 1196.54 and the Nasdaq dropped 6.38 points to 2109.45.

At 1205 AEST, Rio Tinto was 45 cents stronger at $55.27, BHP Billiton gained 10 cents to $20.29 while Woodside gathered 62 cents to $31.52 and Santos advanced 25 cents to $11.25.

The spot price of gold was $US472.25 per fine ounce in Sydney at 1207 AEST, up $US6.625 on yesterday's close. The price rise gave a kick to gold miners, Newmont climbing 13 cents to $6.10 while Newcrest lifted 40 cents to $17.68 and Lihir Gold added eight cents to $1.69.

The big banks were stronger at 1212 AEST, National Australia tacking on 31 cents to $32.60, ANZ advancing 10 cents to $23.29, Commonwealth gaining five cents to $38.30 and Westpac adding 18 cents to $20.40.

At 1215 AEST, Steel maker and metals recycler Smorgon Steel said the mining boom continued to drive demand for its products. Its shares were three cents higher at $1.51.

Credit information provider Baycorp Advantage was one cent higher at $3.63 after announcing it planned to return $150 million to shareholders.

Repco Corp said its first quarter trading had been variable but it still expected low double digit sales growth for the 2005/06 year. The auto parts dealer was two cents higher at $2.80 at 1221 AEST.

Retailers were mixed with Woolworths losing 11 cents to $15.74 but David Jones rose six cents to $2.33 and Coles Myer was 11 cents richer at $9.90.

Media group News Corporation's voting stock lost 28 cents to $20.21 and its non voting shares fell 31 cents to $19.22.

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