ASX 200 rose 38 points to 7362 (+0.5) after a slow start and a rethink ahead of the US reporting season. For the week, the ASX 200 is up nearly 2%. Gold miners led the way higher with NCM up 1.9% and NST running 4.4% higher. Lithium stocks also in demand, PLS up 5.0% and AKE bouncing 5.4% with IGO rallying 5.3%. Iron ore stocks flat as we await news of Cyclone Ilsa. Banks better too after BOQ pre-result results this morning with a $200m write-down of good will. The Big Bank Basket up to $173.80 (+0.9%). MQG up 0.7% and insurers firmed too. MFG continue to bleed down another 2.7%. Industrials firm, staples bouncing back, COL up 0.2% and WOW rallying 1.0%. CSL weaker with REITs mixed, GMG down 1.4%.  Interest rate sensitive stocks did ok, QAN up 0.6% and TCL up 0.1% with Tech a little dull.  The All-Tech Index up 0.3%. In corporate news, GMD is set to raise $450m in two tranches to buy SBM’s Leonora gold assets, WES CEO sells around $9m worth of shares and KAR fell 5.4% after delays to bring production back online after maintenance shutdown. BOQ fell 0.9% on a pre-result result and a write down of $200m on a 2007 acquisition.Nothing on the economic front. Asian markets mostly firmer. 10-year yields up to 3.33% Dow futures down 65 points. NASDAQ futures down 20 points.

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