THE share market was higher at noon, supported by gains among resources and financial stocks.
At 12:10 (AEDT), the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index had climbed 25.2 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 4775.7 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index had advanced 24 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 4781.6 points.
On the Sydney Futures Exchange, the March share price index contract was 30 points higher at 4778 points, on volume of 11,404 contracts.
Stocks opened about 0.1 per cent higher and extended gains through the morning.
Shaw Stockbroking senior dealer Jamie Spiteri said the local market had benefitted from a positive night on offshore markets after a weak finish on Asian bourses.
"As markets steadied overnight, with the US market modestly better, we've seen some moderate support for the resources and banking sectors, which are the obviously the two major components of our index,'' Mr Spiteri said.
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At 12:10 (AEDT), mining giant BHP Billiton was up 28 cents at $42.56 and Rio Tinto had gained 64 cents to $75.04.
Fortescue Metals was one cent higher at $4.89.
Local banks traded higher early in the session, but were mixed at 1215 AEDT.
ANZ had firmed 26 cents to $23.93, CBA was up 31 cents at $55.28 and Macquarie Group advanced 71 cents to $47.97.
But NAB was two cents weaker at $26.63, after it was the best performer among the S&P/ASX20, and Westpac was down seven cents at $26.87.
The spot price of gold in Sydney was $US1,131.91 per fine ounce, down $US4.59 from yesterday's closing price of $US1,136.50.
Gold miner Lihir Gold said it had agreed to sell its Ballarat project to Castlemaine Goldfields for $4.5 million cash and royalties capped at $50 million.
Lihir shares were down three cents at $2.91, while Castlemaine shared were in a trading halt and last traded at four cents.
Newcrest Mining was up 47 cents, or 1.4 per cent, at $33.97.
Wall Street finished higher - the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.46 per cent, the S&P500 index advanced 0.37 per cent and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.51 per ce
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