On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form again and pushed higher. The benchmark rose 0.3% to 7,035.3 points.
Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:
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ASX 200 expected to open higher
The Australian share market looks set to open the day higher on Thursday following a positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 20 points or 0.3% higher this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.3%, the S&P 500 is up 0.15%, and the NASDAQ is 0.1% higher.
Liontown AGM
Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares will be in focus today when the lithium developer holds its annual general meeting. Investors will no doubt be keen to hear what management says about the failed takeover by Albemarle Corp (NYSE: ALB). Due to Gina Rinehart effectively blocking the deal, its shares have gone from almost being acquired for $3 per share to a share price of $1.35 in a month and a half.
Oil prices rise
It looks set to be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.9% to US$77.88 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.7% to US$83.04 a barrel. Oil prices rose ahead of today's OPEC meeting.
Shares going ex-dividend
A couple of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. Gaming technology company Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) is going ex-dividend for its fully franked 34 cents per share dividend and enterprise software provider TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) is going ex-dividend for its partially franked 14.9 cents per share dividend. These will then be paid on 19 December and 15 December, respectively.
Gold price rises
ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) could have a good session after the gold price rose again overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.45% to US$2,048.8 an ounce. Gold hit a seven-month high after US Federal Reserve rate cut bets increased.
