The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) looks set to open hardly changed, with the SPI Futures pointing to a slight rise in the index.
Mixed US data may see traders uncertain about the direction of the market and trying to second-guess what the US central bank will make of the data.
Here's a quick recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): down 0.9%
- DAX (Germany): down 0.7%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.5%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 0.3%
- S&P 500 (USA): down 0.3%
- NASDAQ (USA): down 0.3%
Gold miners may see some reprieve from heavy selling in recent weeks after the spot gold price rose 0.4% to US$1,255.96 an ounce overnight. Resolute Mining Limited (ASX: RSG), Teranga Gold Corp (CDI) (ASX: TGZ) and Millennium Minerals Ltd. (ASX: MOY) have seen their share prices fall by around 25% over the past month.
Iron ore posted a strong gain, rising 1.9% to US$58.38 a tonne, which could see the likes of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) benefit.
Energy stocks could take a bit of a whack after Brent crude fell 1% to US$51.44 a barrel.
Photomapping company Nearmap Ltd (ASX: NEA) could see some support today, after releasing an upbeat trading update with strong quarterly revenue growth in both the US and locally.
Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) could also see some gains after Caltex Australia Limited (ASX: CTX) confirmed that it had submitted a bid for the supermarket retailer's fuels business.
