The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to trade higher today following positive leads from international markets overnight.
Here's a recap:
- Dow Jones (USA): up 0.24%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 0.16%
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 0.08%
- DAX (Germany): up 0.69%
- CAC 40 (France): up 0.56%
In London, the blue-chip index regained ground after an early fall with oil producers and miners leading the way. FTSE-listed shares of Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) finished 3.9% and 3.4% higher, respectively.
US markets also ended modestly higher led by shares in the financials, materials and energy sectors. The utilities sector ended 1.9% lower.
Closer to home, the Sydney Futures Exchange is tipping a 0.6% rise in the S&P/ASX 200.
Shares in focus will include Air New Zealand or AIR N.Z. FPO NZ (ASX: AIZ). This morning, Air New Zealand reported its monthly statistics for March revealing a 1.8% increase in passengers carried and 7.8% rise in revenue passenger kilometres.
Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) released its third quarter retail sales results. Versus the same period last year, total sales from Coles supermarkets rose 3.2%, home improvement (Bunnings Warehouse) sales rose 11%, Officeworks reported 5.6% growth and Kmart and Target (combined) reported sales growth of 11.4%.
Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ) reported flat coal volumes and a 3% fall in iron ore volumes for its most recent quarter.
Finally, in broker news, analysts at Deutsche Bank cut their Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU) price target 4.6% to $11.50, while Morgan Stanley analysts upped their BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BSL) price target 20% to $7.46, according to Dow Jones Newswires.
