The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to open lower on Thursday despite a generally strong session for equity markets overnight. The Sydney Futures Exchange was pointing to an 18 point, or 0.3% drop at the open.
Here's a quick recap for how equity markets performed overnight:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 0.3%
- DAX (Germany): up 0.62%
- CAC 40 (France): up 0.61%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 0.06%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 0.15%
The Australian dollar is still fetching close to US77 cents, at US76.73 cents as at 7:40am AEST, with talk that the RBA is likely to keep cash rates on hold until at least the beginning of 2017.
Aged care operators have rebounded strongly over the last couple of days, but the outlook still remains cloudy for Estia Health Ltd (ASX: EHE), Japara Healthcare Ltd (ASX: JHC) and Regis Healthcare Limited (ASX: REG). The shares could continue to rise today, or they could lose some of their recent gains as investors look to take their cash elsewhere.
The gold miners were another shining light on Wednesday after the spot gold price surged beyond US$1,350 an ounce. Silver Lake Resources Limited. (ASX: SLR), Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) and EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) were particularly strong for the day.
However, the gold price retreated marginally overnight, which could weigh on shares in the sector today. Brent oil, on the other hand, rose 1.4% during the session with iron ore dropping 1.2% to US$58.46 a tonne, according to The Metal Bulletin.
JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) has been another stand-out performer in recent days on speculation it will acquire The Good Guys. Although JB Hi-Fi itself quashed rumours that an acquisition is a virtual certainty, investors have still expressed their excitement over the possibility.
Meanwhile, Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK) is in the news. According to The Australian Financial Review's Street Talk column, changes at the board level are expected with Pacific Equity Partners and Intermediate Capital Group selling their stakes in the business.