Afternoon trading January 5

Thanks @shovel40, @uncleBuck, @JohnI and morning crew.

Half-time wrap:
Australian shares inched higher as oil and precious metals rallied following the US intervention in Venezuela.
The ASX 200 reached the halfway mark six points or 0.07% ahead.
Energy producers and precious metal miners rose with commodity prices as markets reacted to the US seizing Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and announcing plans to develop the country's vast crude reserves.
Brent crude edged up 15 cents or 0.25% this morning to US$60.91 a barrel. Spot gold rallied 1.33% as traders bought traditional havens in times of geopolitical tension. Spot silver put on 3.5%. S&P 500 futures firmed 0.12%.
The Australian gold sub-sector gained 0.73%, but uranium was the big winner following a surge in US miners on Friday. Silex Systems, Paladin Energy and Deep Yellow gained at least 4.3%.
The S&P 500 broke a four-session losing run on Friday as gains in commodity stocks and industrials helped offset weakness in software companies. The index firmed 0.19%. ​

Personal trading: Tough trading conditions. Not the market - having kids off school. Trading books don't address the challenge of trying to make a quid in the middle of a riot. Lend me a fire extinguisher. Managed to concentrate long enough to trade bounces in 4DX and CRN. ​