The share market is close to two per cent higher as investors buy into all sectors after the European Central Bank raised expectations it will provide further economic stimulus.
Consumer stocks are among the biggest gainers, while the materials and energy sectors were also higher, in part due to a planned merger of oil and gas players Drillsearch and Beach Energy.
Drillsearch shares were up 20 per cent, while Beach Energy was steady.
The banks were all higher, as all of the majors except ANZ having announced standard variable home loan rate rises.
KEY FACTS
* At 1200 AEDT on Thursday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 97.7 points, or 1.86 per cent, at 5,361.5 points.
* The broader All Ordinaries index was up 96.8 points, or 1.83 per cent, at 5,396.4 points.
* The December share price index futures contract was up 110 points at 5,342 points, with 20,295 contracts traded.
* National turnover was 1.01 billion securities worth $2.3 billion.
