On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was out of form and dropped into the red again. The benchmark index fell 0.6% to 7,442.8 points.
Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:
ASX 200 expected to rebound
The Australian share market looks set to end the week on a positive note following a solid night of trade on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 39 points or 0.5% higher this morning. In the US, the Dow Jones rose 0.25%, the S&P 500 was up 0.4%, and the Nasdaq edged ever so slightly higher.
Oil prices rise
Energy producers including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could have a decent finish to the week after oil prices pushed higher. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.75% to US$96.98 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.3% to US$101.34 a barrel. Further sanctions on Russian oil boosted prices.
Iron ore price falls
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) shares could have a subdued finish to the week after the iron ore price pulled back. According to Metal Bulletin, the spot benchmark iron ore price dropped 3.2% to US$155.05 a tonne.
Dividends being paid
A number of ASX 200 shares will be paying their latest dividends on Friday. This includes funerals company InvoCare Limited (ASX: IVC), administration services company Link Administration Holdings Ltd (ASX: LNK), logistics infrastructure company Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB), and logistics solutions platform provider WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).
Gold price rises
Gold miners Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) could have a decent finish to the week after the gold price pushed higher. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.6% to US$1,934.7 an ounce. Traders were buying gold as an inflation hedge.
