THE share market was relatively flat at noon in the absence of major leads.
At 12:00 (AEDT), the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 2.9 points higher, by 0.06 per cent, at 4810.8 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index had lifted 1.3 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 4820.9 points.
On the Sydney Futures Exchange, the March share price index futures contract was 12 points higher at 4814 points, on volume of 12,917 contracts.
CMC Markets market analyst, David Taylor, said the market seemed to be taking a breather, with most of the gains in the health care sector and losses elsewhere.
"In this environment post-reporting season, and given that most of the leading economic indicators have pointed to more of the same... when there's little by the way of direction or lead, the market takes it easy,'' Mr Taylor said.
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In the resources sector, global miner BHP Billiton shed 22 cents to $43.29, and Rio Tinto reversed 58 cents to $76.36.
Oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum was nine cents richer at $45.34, and Santos added eight cents to $13.91.
Among the major banks, NAB was up 38 cents at $26.71, Westpac advanced 21 cents to $27.04, ANZ dipped three cents to $23.77, and Commonwealth Bank gained five cents to $54.87.
On Wall Street overnight, stocks closed mixed despite a new round of mergers and acquisitions which raised hopes for the US economy.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average index lost 13.68 points, or 0.13 per cent, to 10,552.52 points.
The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 0.19 point, or 0.02 per cent, to 1,138.5 points, while the Nasdaq composite index lifted 5.86 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 2,332.21 points.
At 12:08 (AEDT), in the media sector, News Corp (the parent company of the publisher of news.com.au) was three cents lower at $18.30, and its non-voting stock was down three cents at $15.65.
Consolidated Media eased three cents to $3.18, and Fairfax firmed 0.5 cent to $1.745.
Telstra nudged up one cent to $2.92, and Optus-owner SingTel was two cents richer at $2.45.
Retailer Woolworths was 15 cents higher at $28.08, and Wesfarmers, which owns Coles, was up 18 cents at $32.71.
Surfwear brand Billabong International was nine cents higher at $10.75 as its former Indonesian licensee, CV Bali Balance (CVBB), sued Billabong over the termination of its distribution licence in Indonesia.
In the gold sector, Lihir sagged five cents to $2.89, and Newcrest picked up two cents to $34.36.
The price of gold in Sydney at 12:16 (AEDT) was $US1122.30 per fine ounce, down $US13.23 on yesterday''s closing price of $1135.53.
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