The Australian sharemarket looks set to open slightly in the red in the wake of terror attacks in Brussels. Shares in travel companies on both sides of the Atlantic fell in overnight trade following the event in Europe, but US indices were able to pare back losses.
US manufacturing activity showed little change in March from February. The purchasing-managers’ flash index noted 51.4 for the month.
Markets
Wall Street closed mixed yesterday: The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.2per cent to close at 17,583, the S&P 500 lost 0.1 per cent to close at 2,050 and the NASDAQ gained 0.3 per cent to close at 4,822.
European markets closed up: London’s FTSE gained 0.1 per cent, Paris gained 0.1 per cent and Frankfurt gained 0.4 per cent.
Asian markets closed mixed: Tokyo’s Nikkei added 1.9 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.1 per cent, and China’s Shanghai Composite fell 0.6 per cent.
The Australian share market closed lower yesterday: The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed 16 points down to finish at 5,167. On the futures market the SPI is 7 points down.
Currencies
The Australian Dollar at 7:20AM was buying $US0.7619 cents, 53.62 Pence Sterling, 85.57 Yen and 67.94 Euro cents.
Company news
National Australia Bank Limited
(ASX:NAB) has confirmed the sale of all CYBG securities required to be sold under the sale facility established by NAB in connection with the demerger of CYBG PLC. The average sale price achieved under the sale facility was $3.6782 per CYBG security. Shares in NAB closed 1.49 per cent lower yesterday at $27.77.
Transaction Solutions International Limited
(ASX:TSN) has announced the resignation of Non-Executive Director, Mr James Carroll, due to executive work commitments. Mr Carroll will leave the board from the end of the TSN financial year of 31 March 2016. Shares in Transaction Solutions closed 2.94 per cent lower yesterday at $0.033.
Ex-dividend | Name | Code | Date | Amount(cents) | Franking |
| Auckland Internation | AIA | 23/03/16 | 7.9 | 0 |
| Amaysim Aus Ltd | AYS | 23/03/16 | 3.0 | 0 |
| Brisbane Broncos | BBL | 23/03/16 | 0.8 | 100 |
| Centrepoint Alliance | CAF | 23/03/16 | 1.0 | 100 |
| Carsales.Com Ltd. | CAR | 23/03/16 | 17.8 | 100 |
| CSL Limited | CSL | 23/03/16 | 81.5 | 0 |
| Fletcher Building | FBU | 23/03/16 | 15.0 | 0 |
| Flight Centre Travel | FLT | 23/03/16 | 60.0 | 100 |
| G8 Education Limited | GEM | 23/03/16 | 6.0 | 100 |
| Landmark White Ltd | LMW | 23/03/16 | 1.3 | 100 |
| MaxiTRANS Industries | MXI | 23/03/16 | 2.0 | 100 |
| Peet Limited | PPC | 23/03/16 | 1.8 | 100 |
| SDI Limited | SDI | 23/03/16 | 0.8 | 100 |
| STW Communications | SGN | 23/03/16 | 3.6 | 100 |
| Seven Group Holdings | SVW | 23/03/16 | 20.0 | 100 |
| Webjet Limited | WEB | 23/03/16 | 6.5 | 100 |
Commodities
Gold has gained $3.50 to $US1,248 an ounce for the April contract on Comex.
Silver has gained $0.05 to $15.90 for May.
Copper has gained $0.003 to $2.29 a pound.
Oil has lost $0.19 to $US41.33 a barrel for April light crude in New York.
