The Australian share market is poised for a weak start to the session following soft offshore leads on the back of mixed economic data. Wall Street's major indexes put in a varied performance as the Dow snapped a six-day winning streak and the S&P 500 dipped but the Nasdaq hit a 14-year closing high. American investors absorbed better than expected existing home sales which showed the best monthly gain in three years. However, sentiment remained subdued following a weak gauge on Eurozone activity and amid ongoing tensions in Iraq. Across Asia a preliminary HSBC survey showed yesterday China's factory sector expanded more than expected in June and for the first time in six months.
Global markets
Wall Street posted a soft start to the week: The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 10 points to close at 16,937, the S&P 500 dipped 0.26 points to close at 1,963 but the Nasdaq firmed 0.64 points to close at 4,369.
European markets ended in the red on Monday following disappointing Eurozone PMIs: London's FTSE 100 fell 25 points, France's CAC 40 lost 26 points and Germany's DAX eased 66 points.
Asian markets closed mixed on Monday after China’s stronger than expected PMI: Japan’s Nikkei added 20 points, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 389 points and China’s Shanghai Composite declined 2 points.
The Australian share market cheered upbeat Chinese data on Monday and gained 0.6 per cent by close: The S&P/ASX 200 index started the week 34 higher at 5,453. On the futures market the SPI is pointing 1 point higher.
Currencies
The Australian dollar hit a seven-month high following China’s manufacturing figures yesterday but at 7:20am has eased slightly from yesterday’s close to $US0.9422, 55.35 Pence Sterling, 96.05 Yen and 69.28 Euro cents.
Commercial property sector
BWP Trust
(ASX:BWP) has bought a 4.37 hectare development site north of Brisbane on which it will develop a Bunnings Warehouse. The real estate investment trust will pay Bunnings $7.6 million for the property in addition to a $19.23 million development fee. Completion is slated for early 2015 and will include almost 15,000 square meters of retail space and near 400 car parking spaces. Separately, Bunnings will spend $13 million to buy the Sunshine Bunnings Warehouse in Melbourne from BWP Trust. Shares in BWP Trust closed 0.39 per cent higher at $2.60 following yesterday’s announcement.
APN Property Group Limited
(ASX:APD) and boutique property funds management group Newmark Property Group have created a new $120 million direct, unlisted retail property fund. The real estate investment manager says the 50:50 joint venture will be known as the Newmark APN Auburn Property Fund backed by a institutional and high net worth investors. Both APN and Newmark have also announced the purchase of the Lidcombe Power Centre which is a retail site in Sydney’s western suburbs poised for redevelopment by the fund. Shares in APN Property Group closed steady at $0.27 yesterday before the announcement was released.
Ex-dividends today
Village Roadshow Limited
(ASX:VRL) paying a 15 cent fully franked dividend
Ex-dividends tomorrow
G8 Education Limited
(ASX:GEM) paying a 4.5 cent fully franked dividend
Commodities
Gold has gained $1.80 to $US1,318.40 an ounce for the August contract on Comex.
Silver has eased $0.03 to $20.92 for July.
Copper has added $0.03 to $3.15 a pound.
Oil has pulled back $0.66 to $US106.17 a barrel for August light crude in New York.
