ASX 200 to slide: 12 shares you need to watch today

Vocus Communications Limited (ASX:VOC) provided investors with a trading update.

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Yesterday's selloff is expected to extend into today's session. The Sydney Futures Exchange suggests the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) will fall around 0.1% at the opening bell, despite another overnight rally for iron ore.

Here's a quick recap:

  • FTSE 100 (UK): down 0.6%
  • DAX (Germany): down 1.09%
  • CAC 40 (France): down 0.88%
  • Dow Jones (USA): down 0.28%
  • NASDAQ (USA): down 0.56%

Iron ore topped US$80 a tonne overnight which could help prop up shares of businesses such as BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) after yesterday's declines.

Oil prices also rebounded, providing BHP and other energy producers such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH) with some support as well.

Aged care operator Estia Health Ltd (ASX: EHE) will come under the microscope after a series of articles from The Australian Financial Review outlined a potential liquidity problem at the business.

Insurance group Tower Limited (Australia) (ASX: TWR) reported a full-year loss of $21.5 million for the year ended 30 September 2016. Its underlying profit after tax, however, was $20.1 million which it said reflected an improved second-half performance.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) and NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF) announced an expansion of their partnership to launch a suite of new private health insurance products, which will likely receive some attention. Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) could also be impacted as a result.

Vocus Communications Limited (ASX: VOC) headlines today's annual general meetings, with shareholders set to gather in Sydney. The telco said it expects full-year revenue to be around $1.9 billion and underlying EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) to be between $430 million and $450 million.

Meanwhile, Mayne Pharma Group Ltd (ASX: MYX) will hold its AGM in Melbourne and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) in Perth.

Motley Fool contributor Ryan Newman has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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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