"The energy sector is certainly the stand-out early in the session on some gains in the oil prices overnight," OptionsXpress market analyst Ben Le Brun said Woodside Petroleum gained 36 cents to $34.87, Santos was up 19 cents to $8.85 and Oil Search was 15.5 cents higher at $7.885. Retail stocks are benefitting from Tuesday night's budget announcement to allow small businesses to claim a tax deduction for the full value of assets worth up to $20,000 in a single year, rather than over five years as had been the case.