The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to open higher this morning, following the lead set by Wall Street overnight. The Sydney Futures Exchange was indicating an 18-point rise at around 7:30am AEDT.
Here's a quick recap of how international markets performed on Monday:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 0.31%
- DAX (Germany): down 0.41%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.4%
- Dow Jones (USA): up 0.58%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 0.26%
Companies on the ASX will continue to report their earnings results today, although the number of reports hitting the market will certainly be fewer and further between.
FlexiGroup Limited (ASX: FXL) is scheduled to report its earnings, together with Surfstitch Group Ltd (ASX: SRF) and Melbourne IT Limited (ASX: MLB).
Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC) will also report, alongside Atlas Iron Limited (ASX: AGO) and Macquarie Atlas Roads Limited (ASX: MQA).
The gold price rebounded marginally overnight, but whether that will be enough to support shares of the gold miners today is unclear.
Gold prices could fall sharply if the US Federal Reserve hikes interest rates next month, which weighed heavily on shares of Silver Lake Resources Limited. (ASX: SLR) and EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) on Monday. St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) also endured a heavy loss, so investors will be hopeful for a rebound of sorts today.
Elsewhere in the resources sector, BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) is back in the news after it was found that liquefaction was the cause of the Samarco dam disaster in Brazil in November 2015, according to The Australian Financial Review.
Meanwhile, all eyes will also be on Estia Health Ltd (ASX: EHE). Shares of the aged care operator were smashed on Monday in what could prove to be a tough week for shareholders.