The Australian sharemarket is set to follow overseas leads lower on open. US indices have come off the boil from its recent winning streak, weighed down by materials and the energy space as we inch closer to the Easter weekend.
US New Home sales rose 2 percent in February. Data released by the Commerce Department showed the gain was prompted by sales in the West.
Markets
Wall Street closed lower yesterday: The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.5 per cent to close at 17,503, the S&P 500 lost 0.6 per cent to close at 2,037 and the NASDAQ lost 1.1 per cent to close at 4,769.
European markets closed mixed: London’s FTSE gained 0.1 per cent, Paris lost 0.2 per cent and Frankfurt gained 0.3 per cent.
Asian markets closed mixed: Tokyo’s Nikkei fell 0.3 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.3 per cent, and China’s Shanghai Composite gained 0.4 per cent.
The Australian share market closed lower yesterday: The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed 24 points down to finish at 5,142. On the futures market the SPI is 34 points down.
Currencies
The Australian Dollar at 7:30AM was buying $US0.7528. cents, 53.34 Pence Sterling, 84.58 Yen and 67.34 Euro cents.
Company news
Yowie Group Limited’s
(ASX:YOW) legal conflict with Atlantic Candy Company continues, after ACC used a procedural mechanism under Florida law to temporarily prevent Yowie from removing its materials from Whetstone’s facility. Yowie told investors it will be moving forward with additional court proceedings to quickly finalize the retrieval of its property. Shares in Yowie closed 10.94 per cent up yesterday at $0.71.
Aquarius Platinum Limited
(ASX:AQP) has outlined a timetable of events relating to the company’s transaction with Sibanye Gold Limited. The company advises that Aquarius shares will suspended from trading on the ASX, LSE and JSE as of 4th April. Aquarius shareholders are set to receive US19.5c in cash, per Aquarius share at the end of April. Shares in Aquarius Platinum Limited closed 2 per cent up yesterday at $0.255.
Ex-dividends
3 companies are going ex-dividend today: A.P Eagers, Joyce Corporation and Myer Holdings
Commodities
Gold has lost $27.50 to $US1,223 an ounce for the April contract on Comex.
Silver has lost $0.62 to $15.27 for May.
Copper has lost $0.05 to $2.24 a pound.
Oil has lost $1.65 to $US39.80 a barrel for April light crude in New York.
