Overnight, US and European stockmarkets put on a mixed showing.
Shares in the US fell largely as a result of the ongoing downtrend in oil prices. Brent crude oil fell $US1.77 or 3.7% to $US45.67 a barrel overnight.
UK-listed stocks climbed 0.4% with earnings report cards leading to broader market gains. However, London Stock Exchange-listed shares of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) continued to slide, losing 2.4% and 0.5%, respectively.
Closer to home the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to open lower. The Sydney Futures Exchange is pointing to a 17-point drop at the start of trading despite modest gains yesterday.
Investors will be watching shares of Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) following the release of its 2015 annual profit figures this morning. In the year ended 30 September 2015, Graincorp reported a heavy fall in profit despite flat revenues.
Seven West Media Ltd (ASX: SWM), Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB), Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE), Aurizon Ltd (ASX: AZJ), REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) have their annual general meetings scheduled today.
According to Morningstar, shares of building products business CSR Ltd (ASX: CSR) and diversified conglomerate Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) are expected to go 'ex-dividend' today, and could come under selling pressure.
Finally, retail and bank shareholders concerned over recent rises in bad debts and a slowing economy will be hoping for some reassuring employment data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics later today.
