The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is tipped to fall 45 points or 0.9% at the open this morning, taking it further away from the 5,500-point mark. It rose as high as 5,498 points on Tuesday, but ultimately ended the session just below 5,480.
Here's a quick recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): down 0.38%
- DAX (Germany): down 0.44%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.57%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 1.09%
- NASDAQ (USA): down 1.54%
Gold shares could continue to fall today after the spot gold price slipped another 0.3%, with one ounce of the precious metal now worth US$1,255.55.
That could weigh further on stocks such as St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM), which plunged 5.5% on Tuesday, as well as EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) and Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM).
Elsewhere in the resources sector, iron ore jumped 1.8% and Brent oil fell 1.4%. One barrel of oil is now fetching US$52.41 a barrel.
South32 Ltd (ASX: S32), Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) and Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC) enjoyed gains of 4.6%, 5.2% and 4.4% yesterday, respectively, and will also be in focus again today.
Meanwhile, Yellow Brick Road Holdings Ltd (ASX: YBR) will be in the spotlight after its founder, Mark Bouris, said he would 'fire himself' this financial year if the company doesn't make a profit, according to The Australian Financial Review.
Estia Health Ltd (ASX: EHE) resumed its downward trend again yesterday, plunging 6.2%. The shares have endured a period of intense volatility recently, with investors wise to remain on the sidelines.
Outdoor media group APN Outdoor Group Ltd (ASX: APO) was one of the biggest fallers on Tuesday after its rival, oOh!Media Ltd (ASX: OML) announced another major acquisition. oOh!Media shares were placed in a trading halt, and will remain in that state until the earlier of trading on Thursday or when an announcement is released to the market.
