On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was back on form and recorded a strong gain. The benchmark index rose 0.45% to 7,420.3 points.
Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:
ASX 200 futures flat
The Australian share market is set to return to trade again this morning in a subdued fashion. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day flat this morning. This follows a mixed night of trade on Wall Street, which in late trade sees the Dow Jones up 0.3% but the S&P 500 down 0.1% and the Nasdaq trading 0.6% lower.
Final day to qualify for dividends
A number of popular ASX 200 dividend shares will be trading ex-dividend tomorrow, which means that today is the final day to invest to be able to receive their distributions when they are paid. Going ex-dividend tomorrow are the likes of Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR), and Transurban Group (ASX: TCL).
Oil prices rise
Energy producers such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could have a good start to the week after oil prices pushed higher. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.65% to US$76.07 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has risen 0.6% to US$79.03 a barrel. Oil prices have now risen 3% since the morning of Christmas Eve.
Gold price edges lower
Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could start the week in a subdued fashion after the gold price edged lower. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 0.1% to US$1,806.7 an ounce. The gold price had hit a one-month high before pulling back on US dollar weakness.
Iron ore price falls
Weakness in the iron ore price could weigh on BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) shares on Wednesday. According to Metal Bulletin, the spot benchmark iron ore price has fallen 3% to US$119.44 a tonne.
