On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was out of form and dropped into the red. The benchmark index fell 0.4% to 7,295.7 points.
Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Friday? Here are five things to watch:
ASX 200 expected to rise
The Australian share market looks set to end the week in a positive fashion. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 23 points or 0.3% higher this morning. This follows a mixed night of trade on Wall Street, which late on sees the Dow Jones up 0.1%, but the S&P 500 down 0.7% and the Nasdaq down 2.4%. The latter does not bode well for ASX 200 tech shares on Friday.
Corporate Travel Management shares to return
The Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) share price is due to return from its trading halt this morning. The corporate travel specialist's shares were halted so it could raise $100 million via a $75 million institutional placement and a $25 million share purchase plan. The proceeds will be used to acquire the Australia and New Zealand corporate and entertainment travel businesses of Helloworld Travel Limited (ASX: HLO).
Oil prices storm higher
Energy producers including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could end the week on a positive note after oil prices pushed higher. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.3% to US$72.51 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.8% to US$75.20 a barrel. Oil prices were boosted by record U.S. implied demand and falling crude stockpiles.
Annual general meetings
A number of ASX 200 shares are holding their annual general meetings this morning and could provide updates. This includes banking giant National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and agricultural chemicals companies Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX: IPL) and Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF).
Gold price jumps
Gold miners Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) could have a strong finish to the week after the gold price jumped. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 1.8% to US$1,796.9 an ounce. The gold price stormed higher after the US dollar weakened.
