The S&P/ASX 200's (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) strong rally could be broken today. After it soared above 5,800 on Monday, the futures market suggests it could slip below that mark again today with a 21-point dip at the opening bell.
Here's a quick recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 0.38%
- DAX (Germany): down 0.3%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.45%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 0.38%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 0.19%
Spot gold prices and iron ore both recovered overnight, suggesting companies such as BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP), EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) and Silver Lake Resources Limited. (ASX: SLR) could find some support today.
Oil prices, on the other hand, fell 3%, which could weigh on businesses such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL).
Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX), Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) and Slater & Gordon Limited (ASX: SGH) could all be in focus today.
Sirtex announced late during yesterday's session that its first-half dose sales grew 5.6%, which saw its shares rise 1.7% for the day. Shares of Slater & Gordon and Cochlear both rocketed higher despite the absence of any company-specific news.
Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN) will receive some attention after it said a report in The Australian Financial Review regarding a potential 'take-private' transaction was "speculative and inaccurate".
Finally, Praemium Ltd (ASX: PPS) reported a 29% lift in funds under administration (FUA) in 2016 to $5.4 billion at 31 December 2016.
