The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AJXO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to trade higher following mostly positive leads from international markets on Friday.
Here's a recap:
- Dow Jones (USA): up 0.72%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 1.03%
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 0.98%
- DAX (Germany): up 1.63%
- EURO STOXX 50 (Europe): up 1.23%
- Shanghai Composite (China): up 0.2%
In the US, investors overlooked a further fall in oil prices, taking the energy commodity below $US30 per barrel, to lift stocks higher.
In Europe, major markets snapped back some of the steep losses they've felt so far in 2016 despite the CRB Index, which measures 19 global commodities, falling to its lowest level in 14 years. FTSE-listed shares of Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) couldn't escape the recent weakness in commodity prices, with their shares falling 2.65% and 1.47%, respectively.
Closer to home, the Sydney Futures Exchange is tipping a 29-point, or 0.6%, rise in the S&P/ASX 200 at the open.
Shares of Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL), Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH), BHP and Rio will be in focus again today.
So too will shares of Cimic Group Ltd (ASX: CIM) (formally Leighton Holdings) and Sedgman Limited (ASX: SDM). Cimic announced today that it has made its final unconditional takeover offer for the 63.01% of Sedgman shares it does not already own.
Integrated Research Limited (ASX: IRI) updated the market on its half-year profit guidance. It expects profit after tax between $5.9 million and $6.5 million in the six months to 31 December 2015, down from $7.5 million last year.
In broker news, analysts at UBS slashed their price target on shares of Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ) by 19% to $4.30.
