Morning market movers: 13 stocks to watch

BHP Billiton Limited (ASX:BHP), Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX:FMG), Sims Metals Management Ltd (ASX:SGM) and Orica Ltd (ASX:ORI) could be key movers within the S&P/ASX 200 (Index:^AXJO)(ASX:XJO) today.

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The local S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to open the day lower following falls in key commodity prices overnight.

On Tuesday, US economic data and some above-average earnings reports from major corporations saw the Dow Jones rise 0.12%. European shares closed higher; Paris' CAC 40, Germany's DAX and the UK's FTSE 100 each closed above 2%.

On the back of demand concerns from China, the price of iron ore fell 4.5% to a four-month low of $US43.57 per tonne. Despite the renewed concerns, however, London-listed shares of Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) closed firmly higher.

Nonetheless, along with smaller iron ore producers such as Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG), both BHP and Rio may come under selling pressure as local investors react to the news.

A further 2.2% fall in the Brent crude oil could also place more pressure on the already depressed share prices of energy stocks such as Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL), Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO). Gold prices fell 0.9% to US$1,073.20 per ounce.

In company-specific news, Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI) has released its full-year results this morning, showing a loss of $1.26 billion. Excluding material items, the company says underlying profit came in 26% lower than last year at $424 million.

DUET Group (ASX: DUE) and Netcomm Wireless Ltd (ASX: NTC) are holding their Annual General Meetings today. Netcomm, a junior machine-to-machine (M2M) technology developer said its outlook is, "extremely good – never been stronger in fact."

Sims Metal Management Ltd (ASX: SGM) updated the market on its 2016 financial year outlook, telling investors that it's first-half underlying earnings before taxes and interest (EBIT) charges will be "around break-even."

Small-cap payday lender and automotive financier, Money3 Corporation Ltd (ASX: MNY) today announced it'll exit the unsecured Small Amount Credit Contract (SACC) lending business by before July 2016 to focus on its faster-growing secured business.

In broker news, according to Fairfax media, Canaccord has maintained its buy rating on Indian sandalwood business, TFS Corporation Limited (ASX: TFC), and Bell Potter has a buy rating on Capitol Health Ltd (ASX: CAJ), a small-cap medical diagnostics business.

Motley Fool contributor Owen Raskiewicz has no position in any stocks mentioned. Owen welcomes your feedback on Google+, LinkedIn & Twitter. 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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