The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is set for a flat start when the opening bell rings this morning, following a mostly mixed night for international equity markets.
Here's a quick recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): down 0.04%
- DAX (Germany): up 0.36%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.21%
- Dow Jones (USA): up 0.16%
- NASDAQ (USA): down 0.02%
Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) will look to benefit from a 1% rise in the iron ore price today. BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) could also benefit, with the added bonus of a nearly 2% increase in oil prices.
Gold miners such as EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) mightn't be so lucky. Since the market closed on Wednesday, gold has fallen from US$1,205 an ounce to US$1,190, which could weigh on the miners.
Macmahon Holdings Limited (ASX: MAH) released a statement this morning stating that a takeover offer from CIMIC, valuing Macmahon at 14.5 cents per share, does not represent fair value. Notably, the shares are currently trading for that amount on market.
Elsewhere, Primary Health Care Limited (ASX: PRY), Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd. (ASX: DMP) and Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX) could all remain in focus today. All three recorded sharp share price movements on Wedneday (Primary Health Care rose while Domino's and Sirtex slipped), and could thus be on the radar of investors today.
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