The local S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AJXO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to trade mostly flat following negative leads from overnight markets.
Here's a recap:
- Dow Jones (USA) – down 0.66%
- NASDAQ (USA): down 0.82%
- FTSE 100 (UK): down 0.64%
- DAX (Germany): down -1.08%
- EURO STOXX 50 (Europe): down 0.79%
In the US, a 3.6% fall in oil prices took shares lower. It now appears likely that the last day of trading in 2015 will decide whether the USA's S&P 500 finishes the year in positive territory.
Meanwhile, in Europe, it was a similar theme. FTSE-listed shares of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) fell 1.1% and 0.96%, respectively, as commodity prices weighed on investor sentiment.
Closer to home, the Sydney Futures Exchange is tipping a 2-point rise in the S&P/ASX 200 following strong gains on the market yesterday.
In focus will be shares of Bellamy's Australia Ltd (ASX: BAL), A2 MILK FPO NZ (ASX: A2M), Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA), Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) and Freedom Foods Group Ltd (ASX: FNP). The share prices of the four dairy and wellness companies have been extremely volatile over the past week.
Shares of Eureka Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: EGH) will also be in focus after the property asset manager announced it entered a contract to acquire Salisbury retirement village in Adelaide.
In broker news, Macquarie Wealth has an 'outperform' rating on shares of shipbuilder, Austal Limited (ASX: ASB); and Deutsche Bank has a 'buy' rating on shares of Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT), according to the Fairfax Press.
