The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is poised to rebound marginally when trading opens this morning with the Sydney Futures Exchange pointing to a 5-point rise. However, it will need to defy falling international markets to end the session higher.
Here's a quick recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): down 0.28%
- DAX (Germany): down 0.88%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.65%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 0.18%
- NASDAQ (USA): down 0.11%
Earnings season is drawing to a close, but there are still a number of companies lining up to report their results to the market.
APN News and Media Limited (ASX: APN) reported a 7% lift in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) this morning, even though revenue remained flat. And AIR N.Z. FPO NZ (ASX: AIZ) reported a record net profit result of NZ$463 million, up 42% on the prior year.
Aged care operator Regis Healthcare Limited (ASX: REG) is also expected to report today, together with Select Harvests Limited (ASX: SHV), Mesoblast limited (ASX: MSB), Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) and Sky Network Television Ltd (ASX: SKT).
Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (ASX: CCL) will also report its half-year results to the market. Its shares have rocketed higher over the last two months and are trading at their highest price since mid-2015, and investors will be hopeful for further gains today.
Meanwhile, investors could continue to weigh in on the grocery sector after Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) and Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS) all rose strongly on Thursday.
Woolies noted an improvement in same-store-sales during the final quarter of financial year 2016, while Metcash shareholders welcomed the news that Metcash would acquire Woolworths' Home Timber & Hardware business.
Gold shares, on the other hand, could be in for another tough day after the spot gold price slipped further overnight. St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) and Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) already endured heavy losses on Thursday, so investors will be hoping for a tamer day today.
