Trump plays down Iran tensions: ASX poised to open flat

Market Reports

by Rachael Jones

Following positive leads from US markets, the Australian share market looks set to open higher. The S&P 500 saw record highs – their best June since 1955. Commodity prices saw a surge as tensions bubble between the US and Iran. President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that Iran may not have intentionally shot down an unmanned US surveillance drone. He didn’t make any commitment as to whether the US intends to retaliate with a military strike. Because of this we have seen some big moves on he commodities front with oil has shooting up over $3 and gold added over $43.

Markets 

Wall Street closed higher yesterday: The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.9 per cent to 26,753, the S&P 500 added almost 1 per cent to close at 2954 and the NASDAQ closed 0.8 per cent higher at 8051.

European markets closed higher: London’s FTSE added 0.3 per cent, Paris gained 0.3 per cent and Frankfurt was up 0.4 per cent.

Asian markets closed higher, Tokyo’s Nikkei gained 0.6 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 1.2 per cent and China’s Shanghai Composite added 2.4 per cent. Taking all of this into equation, the SPI futures are down 4 points. Yesterday, the Australian share market closed 39 points or 0.6 per cent higher at 6687.

Company news

Television company Beyond International (ASX:BYI) reports that in the financial year ending 30 June, 2019, consolidated program production revenues are expected to increase by 19 per cent to $47.4 million from $39.7 million in 2018. The company has recorded a 14.6 per cent increase in hours produced from 178 hours in 2018 to 204 hours in the 2019 financial year. New productions commissioned in the 2019 FY included The Invisibles (National Geographic USA), Mythbusters Junior and Curse of Akakor - a 12 part documentary series for a video-on-demand service operated by Facebook. Shares in Beyond International (ASX:BYI) closed flat at $0.80 yesterday.

Centuria Capital (ASX:CNI) has announced that Jason Huljich has been appointed joint CEO alongside John McBain who remains in a full-time capacity as joint CEO. And Ross Lees is appointed Head of Funds Management. Centuria Capital has experienced rapid growth with assets under management now exceeding $6.0 billion.

Ex-Dividend

Dulux group Limited (ASX:DLX) is paying 43 cents fully franked

Currencies

One Australian Dollar at 7:40AM was buying 69.24US cents, 54.51 Pence Sterling, 74.30 Yen and 61.33 Euro cents.

Commodities

Iron Ore futures suggest a 2.5 per cent gain.
Gold has added $43.50 to US$1392 an ounce.
Silver was up $0.46 to US$15.41 an ounce.
Oil gained $3.19 to US$57.16 a barrel.




 

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