Overnight, US and European shares ended trading with mixed results; the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.23% while London's FTSE 100 ended up 0.46%. UK-listed shares of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) closed trading more than 2% higher.
Over in the US, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said a December interest rate increase was a "live possibility".
Closer to home, the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to open slightly higher, with the Sydney Futures Exchange pointing to a modest 5-point increase at the open.
Shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) will be in focus today, with Australia's largest bank reporting first-quarter trading update to the market. Rival National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) and retailer Kathmandu Holdings Ltd (ASX: KMD) will also trade ex-dividend.
It's also a big day for corporate events on the ASX with Fairfax Media Limited (ASX: FXJ), Perpetual Limited (ASX: PPT), Credit Corp Group Limited (ASX: CCP) and Ardent Leisure Group (ASX: AAD) among those scheduled to hold their Annual General Meetings.
RBA Governor Glenn Stevens will be speaking at Melbourne Institute's 2015 Economic and Social Outlook conference. Financial media will be hanging for any mention of potential scope for official interest rate movements following the central bank's decision to keep rates on hold earlier this week.
Finally, falls of gold, iron ore and crude oil prices overnight could see shares of mining and resources businesses such as Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) and Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) come under pressure.
