S&P/ASX 200 to open higher: 10 shares to watch

The S&P/ASX 200 (Index:^AXJO)(ASX:XJO) is expected to trade mostly sideways today. Shares of iSelect Ltd (ASX:ISU), Myob Group Ltd (ASX:MYO) and Surfstitch Group Ltd (ASX:SRF) will be in focus.

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The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AJXO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to trade higher today following mixed leads from international markets overnight.

Here's a recap:

  • Dow Jones (USA): up 0.32%
  • NASDAQ (USA): up 0.87%
  • FTSE 100 (UK): down 1.6%
  • DAX (Germany): down 2.64%

In Europe, falls in oil prices and major commodities saw resource companies lead markets lower. FTSE-listed shares of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) plunged 8.4% and 5.7%, respectively.

In the US, oil prices and soft service sector data weighed on financial shares, but markets ended slightly higher.

Closer to home, the Sydney Futures Exchange is tipping a 31-point, or 0.6%, rise in the S&P ASX 200.

Shares in focus on the market today will include ThinkSmart Limited (ASX: TSM). This morning, the company reported a 19% jump in revenue and 18% increase in profit for its most recent half year.

Meanwhile, Western Areas Ltd (ASX: WSA) revealed a 36% fall in revenue and 172% drop in profit for the half-year period to 31 December 2015. iCar Asia Ltd (ASX: ICQ) reported a 123% jump in revenue and a loss of $12.4 million.

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC) reported a 13% increase in revenue and 110% jump in profit. Decmil Group Limited (ASX: DCG) revealed a 57% fall in revenue and 325% fall in profit for its most recent half-year reported period.

Sandfire Resources NL's (ASX: SFR) half-year revenue fell 13% and profit fell 47%, while Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) reported a 12.7% jump in revenue and 4% rise in profit.

Myob Group Ltd (ASX: MYO) revealed a 14% jump in full-year revenue but a loss of $42 million. Surfstitch Group Ltd's (ASX: SRF) revenue grew 8.6%, but profit fell to just $368,000.

Finally, iSelect Ltd (ASX: ISU) revenue rose 1%, but it reported a loss of $4.1 million.

Motley Fool Contributor Owen Raszkiewicz does not have a financial interest in any company mentioned. Owen welcomes -- and encourages -- your feedback on Google+, LinkedIn or you can follow him on Twitter @ASXinvest Unless otherwise noted, the author does not have a position in any stocks mentioned by the author in the comments below. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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