The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO)(ASX: XJO) is expected to open higher on Monday, with shares of Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX) and Tassal Group Ltd (ASX: GTK) in focus.
Here's a quick recap of global markets:
- FTSE 100 (UK): down 0.1%
- DAX (Germany): up 0.2%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.4%
- Dow Jones (USA): down 0.1%
- NASDAQ (USA): down 0.1%
In London, shares closed slightly lower ahead of the French election over the weekend. FTSE-listed shares of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) ended flat.
In the US, markets ended the week lower despite President Trump calling for more tax cuts.
Big TAX REFORM AND TAX REDUCTION will be announced next Wednesday.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2017
Closer to home, the ASX 200 is expected to open firmly higher.
Shares in focus will include Berkeley Energia Ltd (ASX: BKY). This morning, the uranium miner announced it had commenced pre-construction activities at its Salamanca mine.
Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) has come out swinging at the potential Australian arrival of online giant Amazon. Harvey Norman is expected to be amongst the most affected by the arrival of the US online e-commerce platform.
Also in focus, small cap software company Gentrack Group Ltd (ASX: GTK) announced the acquisitions of Blip Systems A/S and CA Plus Ltd for a combined $NZ 19.8 million plus earnouts. The company said the deals expand its airport software product range and customer base and are expected to be marginally accretive to earnings per share.
Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC) announced a positive property revaluation.
Sirtex Medical released the results of its 459-patient SARAH clinical study comparing its SIR-Spheres treatment to current therapies. The study did not meet the primary endpoint.
Tassal Group announced positive environmental improvement results at Macquarie Harbour. The company said that its Middle Harbour lease 214 and Gordon lease 219 are back to 100% compliance.
Finally, in broker news, Morgans analysts cut their Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (ASX: CCL) price target 6.9% to $9.65 per share while UBS analysts cut their Oz Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL) price target 1% to $10.40 per share, according to Dow Jones Newswires.
