The share market is higher but early gains by retailers and several other companies have waned during a quiet morning of trade.
Retail stocks were the best performers when the market opened, after the Australian Retailers Association said more than $2 billion was spent by consumers on Boxing Day.
The industry group forecasts spending in the coming weeks will be greater than in the same holiday period a year ago.
Most of the big retailers were higher at noon, but off their earlier highs.
Myer shares were up 2.5 cents at $2.755, David Jones had added 2.5 cents at $3.015, Harvey Norman was up two cents at $3.17, while JB Hi-Fi was down 12 cents at $21.26.
The grocery chains were also higher, with Woolworths up nine cents at $33.79 and Coles owner Wesfarmers 32.5 cents higher at $44.115.
But several other consumer-related stocks had lost ground.
Coca-Cola Amatil was down six cents at $12.11 and Flight Centre was down 70 cents at $46.50.
The market had a positive lead from Wall Street overnight, which rose after a drop in first-time claims for unemployment benefits in the US.
Among the local banks, Commonwealth Bank was up 47 cents at $77.63, ANZ had gained 11 cents at $32.24, National Australia Bank was up three cents at $34.81 and Westpac was three cents higher at $32.17.
In the resources sector, BHP Billiton was 24 cents higher at $37.53 while Rio Tinto had gained 66 cents at $67.50.
KEY FACTS
* On Friday at 1222 AEDT, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 13.5 points, or 0.25 per cent, at 5,340.7 points.
* The broader All Ordinaries index was up 13.9 points, or 0.26 per cent, at 5,339.3 points.
* The March share price index futures contract was three points higher at 5,319 points, with 5,186 contracts traded.
* National turnover was 344 million securities worth $632 million.
