The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to trade higher today following positive leads from international markets.
Here's a recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 1.23%
- DAX (Germany): up 1.85%
- CAC 40 (France): up 1.96%
- Dow Jones (USA): up 1.29%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 1.59%
In London, the British pound and FTSE 100 traded firmly higher as Britons began to enter polling booths for the country's EU referendum. We will know the result of this historic vote at approximately 4pm Australian eastern time. If Britain elects to exit the EU, global markets could be volatile.
FTSE-listed shares of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) finished 1.75% and 0.83% higher, respectively.
Across the pond, US markets rallied on the latest polling data which showed the 'Bremain' vote slightly ahead of the 'Brexit' vote. The energy and financial sectors were the best performing.
Closer to home, the Sydney Futures Exchange is tipping a 60-point, or 1.1%, rise in the S&P/ASX 200.
Shares in focus will include SEEK Limited (ASX: SEK). Yesterday, shares in the jobs portal fell as much as 8% following a trading update. Investors will hope for a reprieve of the share price decline today.
This morning, APN News and Media Limited (ASX: APN) announced it had reached an agreement with New Zealand's Inland Revenue Department to settle several taxation matters for a sum of NZ$36.3 million. APN plans to divest its New Zealand business and merge it with Fairfax Media Limited's (ASX: FXJ) New Zealand business.
Macmahon Holdings Limited (ASX: MAH) shares remain in a trading halt today after a fatal shooting incident which also saw several employees kidnapped near the company's operations in Calabar, Nigeria.
Finally, in broker news:
- Morgan Stanley analysts raised their Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX:WHC) price target 60% to $1.60 and their Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN) price target 15% to $21.21;
- UBS analysts initiated coverage of Fletcher Building Limited (Australia) (ASX: FBU) with a NZ$9.45 price target, according to Dow Jones Newswires.
