On Friday the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) finished the week with a day in the red. It fell almost 0.1% to 6,032.8 points, putting an end to a very disappointing week.
Will things be better this week? Here are five things that could shape Monday's trade:
ASX futures pointing lower.
According to the latest SPI futures, the Australian share market is expected to open the week lower by 30 points or 0.5% following a disappointing end to the week on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were both down 0.2%, whereas the NASDAQ managed to push around 0.1% higher. A significant drop in oil prices weighed heavily on international markets.
Oil prices tumble.
The shares of Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) are likely to come under pressure today after heavy declines in oil prices on Friday. According to Bloomberg, WTI crude oil fell 4% to US$67.88 a barrel and Brent crude oil fell 3% to US$76.44 a barrel. Oil prices tumbled after OPEC and Russia hinted at plans to raise production by 1 million barrels per day to make up for any constraints on Iranian and Venezuelan production.
ALS expected to release its results.
ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) shares will be on watch on Monday. The global provider of testing and analytical laboratory services is expected to release its full-year results and the market will be looking for earnings per share of 28.3 cents. Mesoblast limited (ASX: MSB) quarterly results could also be released today.
Dulux shares go ex-dividend.
The shares of building products provider DuluxGroup Limited (ASX: DLX) will go ex-dividend this morning for its fully franked 14 cents per share interim dividend. Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving this dividend in their nominated accounts on June 12.
Telstra will be on watch again.
Much to the relief of its long-suffering shareholders, the Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price was one of the biggest movers on Friday. A reasonably positive broker note out of UBS was responsible for this push higher. Shareholders will no doubt be hoping that they continue their push today.
