5 things you need to know about the Australian sharemarket today

Welcome to Monday and the start of a new week. Here are the five things I'm looking at today on the Australian sharemarket.

1. The S&P/ ASX 200(Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has open 0.2% higher, as oil stocks lead the way.

   US markets sank on Friday, with the Dow Jones sliding 1.5%, the broader S&P 500 a less spectacular 1.3% and the tech-heavy NASDAQ down just 1%.The Australian dollar was slightly lower against the US dollar and is currently buying 77.4 US cents.

2. Brent crude oil surged a whopping 8% to US$52.99 per barrel, suggesting the likes of Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG), Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL), Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH) and a host of oil companies could be in for a strong day.On the other side of the ledger, airline Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) could be sold off early, having gained significantly since the oil price plummeted. Oil is one of the airline's major expenses, as I previously outlined here.
3. Speaking of Woodside, investors who jumped on board for the fat dividends the company has been paying out over the past 18 months could in for a major disappointment this financial year. The plunging oil price is likely to hammer Woodside's earnings and investors are likely to see the dividend slashed.If you want a better dividend idea, you need to read this new report -> The Motley Fool's Top Dividend Stock for 2015.
4. Tweet of the Day
   

   Kathmandu Holdings $KMD revised expectations NPAT a loss of $2 to $(1M (last year profit of $11.4M) #ozearnings #ausbiz ^JR

   CommSec (@CommSec) February 1, 2015

    

   It hasn't been a good year for adventure wear retailer Kathmandu Holdings Ltd (ASX: KMD). 2015 full year results will depend much upon the key June – July sales months, so no wonder the company declines to give guidance. If both months are cold, sales could soar, if not, then Kathmandu could have another year like last year.

5. Stock of the Day– brought to you by Darryl Date-Shappard – Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (ASX: CCL). Is the soft drink maker good value or just a plain old value trap? Find out here.