SYDNEY, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Australia's market remained steady in early trade, up just 0.3 percent as the waiting game begins until the local earnings season in February.
In early Thursday trade, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was 17.2 points, or 0.3 percent at 5788.7. The broader All Ordinaries index gained 17.7 basis points or 0.3 percent at 5841.4.
"Major miners and energy stock performed well and helped to keep the market positive", CommSec market analyst Steven Daghilan told Xinhua, adding base metal prices are supporting the move.
"Seven of the last eight trading session have been positive and we are only three quarters of a percent below the 20 month high, the market hit on Monday."
The big winner of this morning's trade was BHP Billiton which rallied 1.44 percent. Rio Tinto also rose at 0.8 percent while gold miner Newcrest edged 0.09 percent higher.
All of the four big banks also made gains, with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia adding 0.42 percent, the National Australia Bank lifting 0.51 percent, Westpac being up 0.33 percent and ANZ edging 0.06 percent higher.
Santos shares rose 0.96 percent, Woodside Petroleum added 0.88 percent however Oil Search was down 0.47 percent.
Wesfarmers dropped 0.69 percent and rival Woolworths also weakened to lose 0.25 percent.
There were big gains this morning for Qantas as it surged 4.12 percent in early trade, while telecom giant Telstra was flat.
