It's going to be an interesting end to the week.
Overnight, US and European shares traded lower on the back of weak GDP numbers out of the United States. European listed shares of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) closed down 4% and 2.4%, respectively.
Following the trend set by international markets, local shares are expected to open lower, with the Futures market pointing to 0.02% fall in the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO).
However, following a heavy day of selling in local markets yesterday, investors will be hoping for a rebound in the financial sector after National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) delivered their full-year results earlier this week and encountered significant selling pressure.
Investors will be closely watching shares in Australia's fifth largest bank, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), with the investment bank announcing a half-year profit of $1.07 billion – up 57% over the same period last year.
Pleasingly, Macquarie also announced an interim dividend of $1.60 per share and pointed to ongoing growth in its 2016 financial year.
Another stock in focus will be Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) after the vitamins producer's share price peaked at over $200 yesterday following its first quarter report and Chairman's address.
Another potential catalyst for the stock could be the Chinese government's decision to remove its one-child policy. For the first time in 35 years, Chinese citizens will now allow couples to have two children.
China's decision could also have significant benefits for Bellamy's Australia Ltd (ASX: BAL). Various reports suggest Bellamy's organic infant formula is being bought in local retail stores and sold in Asia at a huge markup because it's so popular.
QUBE Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB) has also announced it'll stake a 19.99% stake in Asciano Ltd (ASX: AIO) to block its takeover from Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. It's believed QUBE's 6.2% shareholder, Peter Scanlon, will seek to block Brookfield's $8.9 billion takeover of Asciano, and along with some partners could split the company's assets, according to The Australian Financial Review.
