Following weak leads, the Australian share market looks set to open lower. US stocks erased Monday’s gains, as energy companies followed oil prices lower. Positive earnings from retailers Home Depot Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc were overshadowed in afternoon trade by security fears in Germany.
US economic news
Consumer prices rose 0.2 percent in October following 2 months of declines, according to data released by the Labor Department.
Markets
Wall Street closed mixed yesterday: The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.04 per cent to close at 17,490, the S&P 500 lost 0.13 per cent to close at 2,050 and the NASDAQ gained 0.03 per cent to close at 4,986.
European markets closed up: London’s FTSE gained 1.99 per cent, Paris gained 2.77 per cent and Frankfurt gained 2.41 per cent.
Asian markets closed mixed: Tokyo’s Nikkei added 1.22 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.15 per cent, and China’s Shanghai Composite lost 0.06 per cent.
The Australian share market closed higher yesterday: The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed 114 points up to finish at 5,118. On the futures market the SPI is 24 points down.
Currencies
The Australian Dollar at 8:20AM was buying $US0.7119 cents, 46.81 Pence Sterling, 87.87 Yen and 66.90 Euro cents.
Economic news
Speaking at 9.15 this morning we have comments from Reserve Bank official Guy Debelle. Due out today from the Australian Bureau of Statistics is the wage price index for the September quarter. Market insiders are forecasting wages may have risen 2.3 percent over the year. Coming up today we also imports of goods for October.
Company news
Spark New Zealand Limited
(ASX:SPK) borrowing division Spark Finance Limited is considering a retail bond offer. The company is considering making an offer of up to $100 million unsecured unsubordinated fixed rate bonds to institutional and New Zealand retail investors. Full details of the offer are expected to be released in the week beginning 30 November when the offer is expected to open. Shares in Spark New Zealand closed 1.67 per cent lower yesterday at $2.94.
Central Petroleum Limited
(ASX:CTP) has praised the decision to build the North East Gas Interconnector. The company has said the move is a huge step forward for the Territory gas industry and the development of a more competitive gas supply into a critically tight Australian domestic gas market. Shares in Central Petroleum closed 8.89 per cent lower yesterday at $0.205.
Ex-dividends | Name | Code | Date | Amount(cents) | Franking |
| Cbg Capital Limited | CBC | 18/11/15 | 1.5 | 100 |
| Zicom Group Limited | ZGL | 18/11/15 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Z Energy Ltd | ZNZ | 18/11/15 | 7.9 | 0 |
Commodities
Gold has lost $15.20 to $US1,068.40 an ounce for the December contract on Comex.
Silver has lost $0.07 to $14.15 for December.
Copper has lost $0.02 to $2.10 a pound.
Oil has lost $0.79 to $US42 a barrel for December light crude in New York.
