While the US market was only marginally higher overnight and Asian stocks were tracking down today, the S&P/ASX 200 rose by nearly 0.7% or 35.8 points to 5491.2 points.

Materials was by far the strongest sector with a 1.3% rise.

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto had another strong day, adding 1% and 0.7% respectively.

Iron ore miners were a standout after the spot price added another US50c overnight to $94.70 per tonne.

Fortescue Metals Group was particularly strong, adding 5.2% or A23c to $4.63, its highest price in almost a month.

Smaller iron ore producer Western Desert Resources added another 18% to 29.5c, taking its total gains so far this week to 34%.

Mirabela Nickel continued its spectacular run, jumping a further 53% to 23c.

Copper producer Discovery Metals also had a good session on no news, rising by 32% to 4c, around a four-month high.

Latin Resources jumped by nearly 30% to 4.8c on high volume, prompting a speeding ticket from the ASX.

The company said there was no information that was yet to be released to the market, but suggested a Resource Capital Research report or London investor briefings by its managing director Chris Gale as a possible reason for the rise.

Minnow Fifth Element Resources would have to be heading for its fourth price query in six weeks after its shares added a further 25% to a fresh all-time high of $3.50.

Its shares are now up 1650% since its listing in May.