The Australian sharemarket looks set for a subdued open today. Shares on Wall Street jumped higher overnight. Stocks shrugged off falls in US crude oil prices which moved lower despite Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar and Venezuela agreeing to cap crude production at January levels.
Markets
Wall Street closed up yesterday: The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.4 per cent to close at 16,196, the S&P 500 added 1.65 per cent to close at 1,896 and the NASDAQ gained 2.3 per cent to close at 4,436.
European markets closed mixed: London’s FTSE closed up 0.65 per cent, Paris fell 0.1 per cent and Frankfurt lost 0.8 per cent.
Asian markets closed up: Tokyo’s Nikkei added 0.2 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.1 per cent, and China’s Shanghai Composite rose 3.3 per cent.
The Australian share market closed higher yesterday: The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed 67 points up to finish at 4,910. On the futures market the SPI is 6 points up.
Currencies
The Australian Dollar at 8:40AM was buying $US0.7107 cents, 49.73 Pence Sterling, 81.02 Yen and 63.81 Euro cents.
Economic news
Due out today from the Westpac-Melbourne Institute is the Leading Indexes of Economic Activity.
Company news
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group
(ASX:ANZ) announced an unaudited cash profit of $1.85 billion for the three months to 31 December 2015. The lender said earnings momentum continued in the quarter with cash profit up 5 percent compared to the average of the third and fourth quarters of FY15. Chief Executive Officer Shayne Elliot said ANZ saw good performances in its Retail and Small Business segments, but acknowledged Corporate borrowing demand remains subdued. Shares in ANZ closed 1.88 per cent up yesterday at $23.27.
Fletcher Building Limited
(ASX:FBU) has reached an agreement to create a 50-50 joint venture between its Fletcher Aluminium windows and doors business and NALCO. All employees of the two businesses will transfer to the joint venture. Ron Holden, the current Managing Director of NALCO, will become the Managing Director of the new entity. Shares in Fletcher Building closed 1.11 per cent up yesterday at $6.38
Ex-dividends | Name | Code | Date | Amount(cents) | Franking |
| Boral Limited | BLD | 16/02/16 | 11.0 | 100 |
| Commonwealth Bank. | CBA | 16/02/16 | 198.0 | 100 |
| Downer EDI Limited | DOW | 16/02/16 | 12.0 | 100 |
| Oneall In Limited | 1AL | 17/02/16 | 4.0 | 0 |
| Contango Inc Gen Ltd | CIE | 17/02/16 | 3.0 | 50 |
| Genworth Mortgage | GMA | 17/02/16 | 14.0 | 100 |
| G.U.D. Holdings | GUD | 17/02/16 | 20.0 | 100 |
| JB Hi-Fi Limited | JBH | 17/02/16 | 63.0 | 100 |
| XRF Scientific | XRF | 17/02/16 | 0.2 | 100 |
Commodities
Gold has lost $38.20 to $US1,201 an ounce for the April contract on Comex.
Silver has lost $0.54 to $15.25 for March.
Copper has gained $0.03 to $2.06 a pound.
Oil has lost $0.66 to $US31.25. a barrel for March light crude in New York.
