The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) looks set to open slightly lower today with the Sydney Futures Exchange tipping a 5-point decline.
Here's a recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): down 0.32%
- DAX (Germany): down 0.74%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.66%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 0.05%
- NASDAQ (USA): down 0.08%
A rise in Apple shares helped buoy Wall Street in the United States overnight, although it seems investors are still concerned about a potentially imminent interest rate hike from the US Federal Reserve.
Closer to home, investors could look for signals regarding our own interest rates from Reserve Bank of Australia chief Glenn Stevens who will speak in Sydney today.
His comments could have an impact on some of the ASX's high-yield dividend shares based on when investors determine another interest rate cut is most likely to occur (assuming that there will be more cuts). That could include popular income-generating companies such as Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).
Meanwhile, the ANZ-Roy Morgan weekly consumer confidence survey will also be scrutinised for signs that consumers are responding to the latest interest rate cut from earlier this month.
The iron ore miners will likely be in focus again today after the commodity's price plunged 6.7% overnight, according to The Metal Bulletin. That could mean further declines for industry heavyweights BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG).
Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) will also be put under the microscope again today after the travel agent business issued a profit warning yesterday afternoon. The shares dropped 8.9% with further losses possible for today.
In broker news, it's worth keeping an eye on Aconex Ltd (ASX: ACX) today. The shares rose strongly on Monday after UBS upgraded its target price on the shares, which still leaves plenty of upside from their current price tag.
