ASX 200 live: Brickworks swings to profit; Soul Patts ups dividends; Cleanaway buys Vic group; US Fed holds rate, dims outlook

AUD down on 53,000 fewer jobs in Feb. Judo dives as Bain, GIC offload stake. Rinehart-backed Arafura's best day in almost a year. Red flag raised after $20m withdrawal by Star patrons. Nanosonics is top mid-cap gainer after US FDA tick.

Jobs data and economic commentary is on investor radars on Thursday. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Thursday, March 20. The ASX 200 index is up 1.2 per cent to 7923.50 points at 2.30pm AEDT, with only the miners in the red.

Wall Street rose as the US Federal Reserve delivered on expectations of a rate hold and lowered growth forecasts. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones indexes rose about 1 per cent and the technology-focused Nasdaq gained 1.4 per cent.

Cryptocurrency giant bitcoin has climbed above $US85,000.

The Aussie dollar is trading around US63.39c, down on the reduction in jobs.

Originally published as ASX 200 live: Brickworks swings to profit; Soul Patts ups dividends; Cleanaway buys Vic group; US Fed holds rate, dims outlook