5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday 4 June 2021

5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

Will the ASX 200 end the week with a new record high?

James Mickleboro

Author Bio
James Mickleboro is an investment writer and analyst who has worked with The Motley Fool Australia for 10 years, covering ASX shares, market news, broker research, dividends, growth stocks, and long-term investing ideas.

Over that time, James has written extensively about Australian equities and developed a particular focus on helping everyday investors understand the stories behind share price moves, company announcements, broker views, and broader market trends.

His best investment recommendation was identifying Afterpay while it was still a small-cap growth share, before its rise into one of Australia’s biggest technology success stories. His worst investment lesson came from CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), where he was burnt by believing management could turn the business around sooner than the market ultimately allowed.

Areas of Expertise

ASX shares
Growth and dividend investing
Broker research
Interpreting company announcements
Market news
Portfolio strategy
Long-term wealth creation

Education
Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics. CFA Institute
Social Media
LinkedIn

James is the founder of Evermore Asset Management, which focuses on undercovered global stocks.

Favorite Investment Quote
"It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price."
— Warren Buffett

Published June 4, 2021 6:30 am AEST

On Thursday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form again and charged to a new record high. The benchmark index rose 0.6% to 7,260.1 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday? Here are five things to watch:

Business woman watching stocks and trends while thinking — Image Source: Getty Images

ASX 200 expected to edge higher

The Australian share market looks set to end the week on a subdued note. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 3 points higher this morning. This follows a poor night of trade on Wall Street, which saw the Dow Jones fall 0.1%, the S&P 500 drop 0.35%, and the Nasdaq tumble 1% lower.

Oil prices rise

Energy producers including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) will be on watch after oil prices edged higher. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.1% to US$68.88 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up slightly to US$71.36 a barrel. A mixed US inventory report held back oil prices.

Tech shares on watch

Australian tech shares such as Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) and Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) could come under pressure today after their US counterparts were sold off overnight. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index fell 1% after investors rotated into cyclical stocks. As the local tech sector has a tendency to follow the Nasdaq's lead, it doesn't bode well for Friday's trade.

Wesfarmers given buy rating

The Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price is in the buy zone according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. In response to its strategy update on Thursday, the broker has retained its buy rating and $59.70 price target. Goldman notes that key priorities have been aligned towards developing a market leading data and digital ecosystem, investing in platforms, and accelerating the pace of continuous improvement.

Gold price sinks

Gold miners Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) could end the week in the red after the gold price sank. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 1.9% to US$1,873.20 an ounce. A strong US dollar put pressure on the safe haven asset.

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