Mining sector keeps local shares from sinking into red

The mining and resource sector is holding up the local bourse, keeping it on track for its third straight session of very modest gains.

At midday on Wednesday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 9.9 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 8,767.6, while the broader All Ordinaries had grown 10.3 points,…