The Sydney Futures Exchange is pointing to a marginal rise when trading opens this morning. The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is hovering just above 5,500 points and investors will be hopeful it remains that way this afternoon.
- FTSE 100 (UK): down 0.44%
- DAX (Germany): down 0.47%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.24%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 0.12%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 0.12%
As we approach the end of August, earnings season is quickly coming to an end. However, there are still a number of big-name companies yet to report, with a number of those announcements to be made today.
Blackmores Limited's (ASX: BKL) earnings results will attract plenty of attention today. Blackmores was one of the most exciting shares in 2015 but has fallen sharply so far in 2016, so investors will look for signs to determine if it has been oversold.
The opposite could be said for Aconex Ltd (ASX: ACX), whose shares have rocketed higher in 2016. The software business reported a 50% rise in revenue (driven mostly by its international section), with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) up a whopping 350%.
Others which have reported their earnings today include Monadelphous Group Limited (ASX: MND), Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN), iSignthis Ltd (ASX: ISX) and Greencross Limited (ASX: GXL), together with Senex Energy Ltd (ASX: SXY) and Healthscope Ltd (ASX: HSO).
Virtus Health Ltd (ASX: VRT) is also due to report, along with Integrated Research Limited (ASX: IRI), Scentre Group Ltd (ASX: SCG), Caltex Australia Limited (ASX: CTX) and Vocus Communications Limited (ASX: VOC) also due to report.
While earnings season will continue to dominate the market's attention, the resources sector could also experience some volatility. Gold fell 0.3% overnight which could weigh on companies such as Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM), while a 3.3% dip in the oil price could drag on BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL).
Other businesses that will likely receive some attention today include APN Outdoor Group Ltd (ASX: APO) and oOh!Media Ltd (ASX: OML), whose shares plummeted on Monday.
The pair dropped 35% and 18%, respectively, following a guidance downgrade from APN Outdoor which appears to have sparked a panic in that sector.
