The Australian share market looks set for a flat start today after a quiet overnight session with Wall Street closed for the thanksgiving holiday.
Figures
As Wall Street was closed for Thanksgiving Day public holiday on Thursday, we will recap Wednesday's close: The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished at 12,837, the S&P500 closed at 1,391 and the Nasdaq ended the day at 2,927.
European markets closed higher: London's FTSE added 39 points, Paris gained 21 and Frankfurt is up by 60 points.
Asian markets finished mixed: Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 219 points, Tokyo's Nikkei added 144 and China's Shanghai Composite lost 15 points.
The Australian share market closed higher yesterday: The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed 44 points up to finish at 4,413. On the futures market the SPI is 4 points higher.
Currencies
The Australian Dollar at 8:30AM was buying $US1.039 cents, 65.19 Pence Sterling, 85.67 Yen and 80.67 Euro cents.
Company news
Echo Entertainment Group Limited
(ASX:EGP) has lost a leading candidate from the selection process to replace departing CEO Larry Mullin.
New Zealand raised casino executive Grant Bowie, currently at the helm of US casino heavyweight MGM's Macau operations, has opted against taking the role after emerging as the frontrunner in the executive search. Shares in Echo closed 2.53 per cent up yesterday at $3.65.
David Jones Limited
(ASX:DJS) Chairman Bob Savage has announced he will quit the department store chain two years ahead of his term expiring. Mr Savage dropped the bombshell ahead of today's David Jones AGM and despite last year making guarantees he would serve out his full term as Chairman. Shares in David Jones closed 1.24 per cent higher yesterday at $2.44.
Commodities
Gold is up $4.60 to $US1,728 an ounce for the December contract on Comex.
Silver is up $0.42 to $33.35 for December.
Copper is down $0.03 at $3.50 a pound. Oil is up $0.63 at US$87.38 a barrel for January light crude in New York.
