Following mixed leads, the Australian share market looks set to open flat today. US stocks saw capped gains, slowed by losses from tech giant Apple.
Meanwhile the Australian Dollar continues to hug US70c as investors eye a Fed interest rate rise in December.
US import prices fell 0.5 percent in October. Data released by the Labor Department highlighted that prices for imported goods fell for the fourth consecutive month.
Markets
Wall Street closed mixed yesterday: The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2 per cent to close at 17,758, the S&P 500 added 0.2 per cent to close at 2,082 and the NASDAQ lost 0.2 per cent to close at 5,083.
European markets closed mixed: London’s FTSE lost 0.3 per cent, Paris was steady and Frankfurt gained 0.2 per cent.
Asian markets closed mixed: Tokyo’s Nikkei added 0.2 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 1.4 per cent, and China’s Shanghai Composite lost 0.2 per cent.
The Australian share market closed lower yesterday: The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed 20 points down to finish at 5,099. On the futures market the SPI is 3 points up.
Currencies
The Australian Dollar at 8:20AM was buying $US0.7030 cents, 46.51 Pence Sterling, 86.61 Yen and 65.58 Euro cents.
Economic news
The key focus for local investors on this Wednesday will be the Westpac/Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment survey for November.
Company news
Westpac Banking Corporation
(ASX:WBC) has announced that at 30 September 2015, the value of the financial backing provided by Westpac to initiatives and projects creating positive societal outcomes totaled almost $124 billion. The lender detailed its sustainability strategy in the Westpac Annual Review and Sustainability Report for 2015. Shares in Westpac closed 1.25 per cent lower yesterday at $30.90.
Infratil Limited
(ASX:IFZ) has reported a slowdown in capital investment in its results for the half year ended 30 September 2015. The company reported $55 million of capital was invested over the period compared to $196 million in the same period last year. Net debt fell to $308 million from $761 million at the start of the period. Shares in Infratil closed steady at $2.90.
Ex-dividends
| Name | Code | Date | Amount(cents) | Franking |
| 8I Holdings Ltd | 8IH | 11/11/15 | 0.5 | 0 |
| IPE Ltd | IPE | 11/11/15 | 1.0 | 70 |
| Waterco Limited | WAT | 11/11/15 | 5.0 | 100 |
| Westpac Banking Corp | WBC | 11/11/15 | 94.0 | 100 |
Commodities
Gold has gained $0.30 to $US1,088.40 an ounce for the December contract on Comex.
Silver has lost $0.03 to $14.38 for December.
Copper has lost $0.01 to $2.22 a pound.
Oil has gained $0.24 to $US44.11 a barrel for December light crude in New York.
