The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is expected to surge another 49-points or 0.9% when the market opens this morning, bolstered by a sharp overnight rise for international markets.
Here's a quick recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 1.81%
- DAX (Germany): up 1.96%
- CAC 40 (France): up 1.36%
- Dow Jones (USA): up 1.55%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 1.14%
Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) will be in focus today after its London shares rocketed almost 7% overnight. The London shares of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) also soared 3.8% as iron ore surged to more than US$82 a tonne, according to The Metal Bulletin.
If BHP and Rio Tinto perform well today, it's likely that Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) will too after its shares rose 4.3% on Wednesday.
Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) will also receive some attention after it announced a new strategy this morning.
Insurance business, Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG), also released a strategy update ahead of its investor day today.
Meanwhile, according to The Australian Financial Review, retail giant Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) will today find out whether it broke the law in 2014, when it demanded retrospective payments from suppliers to help bolster its own profits.
A number of fast growing businesses also managed to find their footing yesterday after heavy recent falls. Businesses such as Aconex Ltd (ASX: ACX) and Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP) could be back on the agenda again today, as a result.
Finally, high-yield dividend shares have also been given a workout recently, spurred on by the country's weak GDP figures yesterday that are reducing the likelihood of an interest rate hike in the immediate future.
That could again help the banks, including Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), as well as Sydney Airport Holdings Ltd (ASX: SYD) which has gained 4.6% over the past two sessions.
