Welcome to Wednesday. Here are the five things I'm looking at today on the Australian sharemarket.
- The S&P/ ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has opened 0.3% lower, following mixed results on US markets overnight.The Dow Jones fell 0.3%, while the broader S&P 500 was flat and the NASDAQ actually gained 0.5%.
- Oil and gas stocks may see some much needed support, after Brent oil prices rose for the first time in six days. In London, Brent Futures rose as much as 1.1%, but that could be a temporary reprieve, as the world comes to terms with an oversupply of oil.In early trading, Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) and BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) were showing gains, while the wider market is down.
- Pipeline owner and operator APA Group (ASX: APA) has agreed to buy BG Group's LNG pipeline for US$5 billion. The pipeline carries coal seam gas from fields in the Surat Basin to GB's Curtis Island LNG plant in Gladstone, Queensland.APA is already Australia's largest gas pipeline owner, with an estimated $12 billion of energy assets (prior to the BG acquisition).
- Tweet of the Day
Tesla electric car goes on sale today – but experts warn its recharger isn't compatible with Australian homes. https://t.co/E7y4IsGGSq
Joshua Dowling (@JoshuaDowling) December 9, 2014Which is a shame really – what a wonderful invention.
- Stock of the Day – brought to you by Tim McArthur – STW Communications Group Ltd (ASX: SGN). With a massive 7.5% dividend yield, investors might want to know what's ahead for the company in 2015. Tim shares his insights here.
