The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to slip today ahead of the latest consumer price index (CPI) data, due at 11:30am AEDT. However, it could be buoyed by the mining sector following a 4.5% surge in the iron ore price overnight, taking it to US$61.96 a tonne, according to The Metal Bulletin.
Here's a quick recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 0.45%
- DAX (Germany): down 0.04%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.26%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 0.3%
- NASDAQ (USA): down 0.5%
Ardent Leisure Group (ASX: AAD) will be in the spotlight today. Its Dreamworld theme park was rocked by a tragic event on Tuesday afternoon, which saw its shares plunge 8% late in the day.
Fellow theme park owner and operator Village Roadshow Ltd (ASX: VRL) could also be impacted by the incident, with its shares also likely to be in focus.
Dairy business Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) saw its shares get hammered yesterday, slipping almost 17%. Its joint venture partner Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) could also receive some attention based on signs its infant formula products aren't performing as well as was initially anticipated.
The iron ore miners could get a boost from the surging iron ore price overnight. Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) rose 6.5% yesterday, and could go further today, together with BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO).
Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX) shares enjoyed a strong jump on Tuesday as well, and could be set for further gains today. Aconex Ltd (ASX: ACX) and Greencross Limited (ASX: GXL) also impressed investors yesterday.
Meanwhile, gold miners such as EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) could get a boost following a 0.8% jump in the spot gold price overnight.
