On Monday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) started the week on a positive note. The benchmark index rose 0.1% to 6,962 points.
Will the market be able to build on this on Tuesday? Here are five things to watch:
ASX 200 expected to rise
The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Tuesday following a solid start to the week on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 26 points or 0.4% higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.8% and the S&P 500 is up 0.4%, but the NASDAQ is down 0.3%.
Oil prices jump
Energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) could have a great day after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 5.2% to US$72.89 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 4.1% to US$78.12 a barrel. Traders were buying oil amid a Kurdistan export halt and banking optimism.
Origin agrees takeover deal
The Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) share price will be on watch on Tuesday after the energy company accepted a takeover offer from a consortium comprising Brookfield Asset Management and MidOcean Energy. Origin has agreed to a revised deal of $5.78 per share and US$2.19 per share, which implies a total consideration of $8.912 per share. Elsewhere, United Malt Group Ltd (ASX: UMG) could return from a trading halt today with a takeover update of its own.
Gold price falls
It could be a poor day for gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 1.3% to US$1,958.1 an ounce. Improving risk sentiment appears to have softened demand for the safe haven asset.
Dividend payday
A number of popular ASX 200 dividend shares will be rewarding their shareholders with their latest dividend payments on Tuesday. This includes health supplements company Blackmores Ltd (ASX: BKL), steel producer BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BKL), and conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES). The latter is paying a fully franked 88 cents per share interim dividend.
