The Australian share market was more than one per cent higher at noon, pushed up by the big banks and the miners.

On the back of a higher iron ore price overnight and modest gains in oil, Rio Tinto was up 4.27 per cent, while BHP was up 2.32 per cent ahead of its annual general meeting.

The energy sector was mixed, with Woodside Petroleum and Origin up but Santos down.

Sonic Healthcare (up 5.33 per cent) helped that sector’s gains after it announced it was on track to lift earnings this financial year.

All the big banks were up, with National Australia Bank the best performer, up 2.12 per cent.

KEY FACTS

* At 1200 AEDT, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 65.1 points, or 1.27 per cent, at 5,198.2 points.

* The broader All Ordinaries index was up 62.3 points, or 1.2 per cent, at 5,251.4 points.

* The December share price index futures contract was up 73 points at 5204 points, with 15,766 contracts traded.

*At 1210 AEDT, national turnover was 724 million securities worth $1.7 billion.