ASX up 0.1%; Information Technology up 1.5%

Australian shares started the week flat on Monday, as advances in technology offset a drop in energy stocks.

By noon, the S&P/ASX 200 is 0.12 per cent higher at 8,221.50.

The SPI futures are pointing to a rise of 7 points.

Best and worst performers

The best-performing sector is Information Technology, up 1.47 per cent. The worst-performing sector is Energy, down 1.3 per cent.

The best-performing large cap is Newmont Corporation (ASX:NEM), trading 3.35 per cent higher at $73.10. It is followed by shares in ResMed (ASX:RMD) and Whitehaven Coal (ASX:WHC).

The worst-performing large cap is Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST), trading 4.16 per cent lower at $17.53. It is followed by shares in Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN) and Mercury NZ (ASX:MCY).

Commodities and the dollar

Gold is trading at US$2747.60 an ounce.
Iron ore is 2.0 per cent higher at US$101.20 a tonne.
Iron ore futures are pointing to a 2.8 per cent rise.
One Australian dollar is buying 66.06 US cents.