The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) surprised to the upside on Wednesday. The main bourse is expected to open higher again this morning, although it looks set to trade within a tight band for the day after international equity markets remained rather flat overnight.
Here's a quick recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 0.04%
- DAX (Germany): down 0.05%
- CAC 40 (France): up 0.26%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 0.18%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 0.15%
AMP Limited (ASX: AMP) reported its full-year financial results to the market this morning, revealing a net loss of $344 million. That compares to a net profit of $972 in the 2015 financial year.
Entertainment business SKYCITY Entertainment Group Limited-Ord (ASX: SKC) also reported its half-year results today. Its normalised revenue dropped 6.4% compared to the prior corresponding period, while its earnings fell 2% on a normalised basis as well.
Class Ltd (ASX: CL1) is also due to report its earnings results to the market this morning.
Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) announced a US$500 million share buy-back programme of its London shares yesterday afternoon. It also reported a 12% increase in its underlying earnings, a 21% decline in its full-year dividend and a 10% decline in its net cash generated from operating activities.
Depending on how the market responds to Rio Tinto's results, BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) may also be impacted.
Elsewhere in the resources sector, gold shares will be on the agenda again today. Although a number of them fell on Wednesday, gold prices surged again overnight which will likely bolster shares such as EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM).
Other shares that are worth watching today are Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV) and Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CAR). The pair soared on Wednesday following their own earnings results.
Before getting started on your day, be sure to check out these two articles:
