On Friday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form and finished the week on a positive note. The benchmark index rose 0.7% to 7,362 points.
Will the market be able to build on this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:
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ASX 200 expected to rise
The Australian share market looks set to start the week on a positive note. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 31 points or 0.4% higher this morning. This follows a strong end to the week on Wall Street, which saw the Dow Jones rise 1.1%, the S&P 500 climb 0.75%, and the Nasdaq push 0.5% higher.
Oil prices rise
Energy producers such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could have a solid start to the week after oil prices rose on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.2% to US$82.28 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has risen 1% to US$84.86 a barrel. Oil prices climbed to three-year highs amid supply deficit forecasts.
Rio Tinto named as a buy
The Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) share price could be in the buy zone according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. In response to its third quarter update, the broker has put a buy rating and $122.40 price target on the mining giant's shares. It said: "We note the new guidance is in-line with GSe and the Sep Q production was overall in-line or a touch better than GSe."
Gold price sinks
Gold miners Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could start the week in the red after the gold price tumbled lower on Friday night. According to CNBC, the spot gold price fell 1.7% to US$1,768.30 an ounce. Improving investor sentiment appears to have weighed on the safe haven asset.
Iron ore price falls
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) shares will be on watch after the spot iron ore price softened on Friday night. According to Metal Bulletin, the benchmark iron ore price fell 0.5% to US$125.22 a tonne. This iron ore price recorded a small weekly gain during another volatile week.
