The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) had a bit of a mixed day on Tuesday, finishing it flat at 6,280.2 points following heavy declines in the tech sector.
Will the market have a better day on Wednesday? Here are five things that could shape the day's trade:
ASX futures pointing higher.
According to the latest SPI futures, the Australian share market is expected to open the day 0.3% or 19 points higher on Wednesday. This follows a positive night of trade in the United States which saw the Dow Jones climb 0.4%, the S&P 500 rise 0.5%, and the Nasdaq push 0.55% higher.
Apple reports strong quarterly results.
The shares of global tech giant Apple are up 3% in after-hours trade to an all-time high following a strong quarterly result. Apple reported revenue of US$53.3 billion for the third quarter, up 17% on the prior corresponding period and around US$1 billion ahead of the market's expectations. Although iPhone sales numbers came in flat at 41.3 million, the popularity of the more expensive iPhone X model helped lift revenue.
Australian tech shares could rebound.
The shares of tech companies including Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) were sold off on Tuesday after their U.S. counterparts fell heavily. But following a positive night of trade on Wall Street and the Nasdaq in particular, Australian tech shares could be set for a rebound today.
Earnings season gathers pace.
This morning the shares of BWP Trust (ASX: BWP), Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia (ASX: GMA), and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) will be on watch when they release their respective results. In respect to the latter, the market is eager to learn what management plans to do with the funds raised from the sale of non-core assets this year.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia given neutral rating.
A note out of Goldman Sachs has given Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares a neutral rating with a reduced price target of $72.72. According to the note, the broker updated its estimates after marking-to-market its forecasts for the latest system credit growth data and the bank's lending and deposit market shares.
