The Australian sharemarket looks set for a positive open despite mixed overseas leads. US indices closed mostly higher. Shares in tech giant Apple slipped below $100 dollars following disappointing quarterly results. Investors will now be looking ahead to results from the latest US Fed meeting with no change to interest rates forecast.
US durable goods orders missed expectations, coming in at 0.8 percent in March according to data released by the Commerce Department. Meanwhile the CB Consumer Confidence showed a dip in sentiment to 94.2 points in April.
Markets
Wall Street closed mixed yesterday: The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.1 per cent to close at 17,990, the S&P 500 added 0.2 per cent to close at 2,092 and the NASDAQ lost 0.2 per cent to close at 4,888.
European markets closed mixed: London’s FTSE gained 0.4 per cent, Paris lost 0.3 per cent and Frankfurt lost 0.3 per cent.
Asian markets closed mixed: Tokyo’s Nikkei fell 0.5 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.5 per cent, and China’s Shanghai Composite gained 0.6 per cent.
The Australian share market closed lower yesterday: The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed 16 points down to finish at 5,221. On the futures market the SPI is 20 points up.
Currencies
The Australian Dollar at 7:20AM was buying $US0.7747 cents, 53.16 Pence Sterling, 86.24 Yen and 68.58 Euro cents.
Economic news
Due out today from the Australian Bureau of Statistics is inflation data for the March quarter. Market insiders are expecting headline inflation to increase by 0.2%.
Company news
Retail Food Group Limited
(ASX:RFG) has confirmed the settlement of its purchase of adjoining properties in Ashmore on the Gold Coast, where the company plans to establish its global headquarters. Managing Director Tony Alford said the property acquisition would see the company consolidate its Gold Coast operations whilst providing opportunities in terms of future growth and long-term stability. Shares in Retail Food Group closed 1.28 per cent up yesterday at $5.56.
Metals X Limited
(ASX:MLX) has extended its offer period for its off-market takeover bid to acquire up to 100 percent of the ordinary shares in Aditya Birla Minerals. The offer will now close at 5pm on 29 July 2016, instead of 28 April 2016. Shares in Metals X closed 5.36 per cent lower yesterday at $1.06.
Ex-dividends
| Name | Code | Date | Amount(cents) | Franking |
| Cadence Capital | CDM | 27/04/16 | 5.0 | 100 |
| Katana Capital | KAT | 27/04/16 | 1.5 | 100 |
| WAM Capital Limited | WAM | 27/04/16 | 7.3 | 100 |
Commodities
Gold has gained $4.60 to $US1,245 an ounce for the June contract on Comex.
Silver has gained $0.15 to $17.21 for May.
Copper is steady at $2.26 a pound.
Oil has gained $2.02 to $US44.66 a barrel for June light crude in New York.
