The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to open slightly lower this morning, with the Sydney Futures Exchange pointing to a 6-point decline. Whether the bourse opens at the right time will be another issue altogether.
Here's a quick recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 1.54%
- DAX (Germany): up 0.95%
- CAC 40 (France): up 1.43%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 0.02%
- NASDAQ (USA): down 0.18%
The local share market experienced a series of technical glitches on Monday which resulted in a delayed opening, as well as an early finish for the ASX.
ASX Limited (ASX: ASX), the market regulator, fell 1.4% for the day and will likely be in focus again today. It blamed the outages on a hardware issue and insisted that the issues were not related to cyber security.
Investors will also be focused on the RBA minutes from the latest board meeting. They will look for any indications from the board that further interest rate cuts could be on the way, while the Australian dollar could move accordingly.
High-yield dividend shares such as Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) could also come into focus depending on the message delivered by the board.
Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) and BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) could get a kick from comments made by the CEO of fellow iron ore miner Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO). As quoted by The Australian Financial Review, CEO Jean-Sebastian Jacques said in an interview with Bloomberg Television: "We are becoming much more what I would describe as cautiously optimistic in relation to China."
Iron ore fell 0.5% overnight, while oil prices rose marginally.
Gold also slipped marginally, with one ounce of the shiny metal now fetching US$1,313. St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) and Independence Group NL (ASX: IGO) both rose strongly on Monday, and investors will hope they can hold onto those gains.
Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) was one of the weaker performers during Monday's interrupted session, shedding 4.3%, and could also be in focus again today.
