On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form and recorded a small gain. The benchmark index rose 0.2% to 7,729.4 points.
Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:
ASX 200 expected to rise again
The Australian share market looks for a positive session on Thursday despite a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 37 points or 0.5% higher this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.1%, but the S&P 500 has fallen 0.25% and the Nasdaq is down 0.55%.
Oil prices rise
ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a good session after oil prices stormed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.9% to US$79.81 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.7% to US$84.13 a barrel. Oil prices rose after Ukraine hit Russian oil refineries.
Sell Core Lithium shares
Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares are a sell according to Goldman Sachs. This morning, the broker has retained its sell rating on the lithium miner's shares with a trimmed price target of 13 cents. This follows the release of the company's half-year results. It said: "We note that with the mining contract terminated and notice given on the processing contract, we expect that a near-term restart of the Finniss operation is increasingly unlikely."
Gold price rebounds
ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session after the gold price rebounded overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.6% to US$2,179 an ounce. A softer US dollar boosted the precious metal.
ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend
Another group of ASX 200 shares will be going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes appliance manufacturer Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG), auto retailer Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE), poultry producer Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING), and telco TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG).
