The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO)(ASX: XJO) is expected to open higher on Tuesday, with shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) in focus.
Here's a quick recap of global markets:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 0.1%
- DAX (Germany): down 0.2%
- CAC 40 (France): down 0.9%
- Dow Jones (USA): flat
- NASDAQ (USA): flat
In London, blue chip shares ended mostly flat as the market reacted to the weekend's French Presidential elections. FTSE-listed shares of BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) ended 1.2% and 1.4% lower, respectively.
In the US, investors pushed markets modestly higher, but to all-time highs. The S&P 500 is now more than 210% higher than the lows of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2009.
Closer to home, the ASX 200 is expected to open flat.
Shares in focus will include Commonwealth Bank of Australia. This morning, Australia's biggest company released a quarterly update revealing a cash profit of $2.4 billion with stable charges for bad debt.
Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) announced that its subsidiaries have launched a bond offering for $1 billion, with the proceeds used to repay existing debt.
Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX: IPL) released its half-year report showing a net profit of $152 million, up 11% over the prior corresponding half.
Finally, analysts at Goldman Sachs raised their Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) price target 8% to $93.80, while Citi analysts raised their Worleyparsons Limited (ASX: WOR) share price target 37% to $13.45, according to Dow Jones Newswires.
