The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) appears set to rise this morning with the futures market sitting 16 points higher. As it stands, the ASX 200 is sitting just over 40 points below the 6,000 point mark – will this be the week the index finally breaks through?
Here's a quick recap:
- FTSE 100 (UK): up 0.07%
- DAX (Germany): up 0.28%
- CAC 40 (France): up 0.14%
- Dow Jones (USA): up 0.1%
- NASDAQ (USA): up 0.74%
The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price will be in focus today. The bank announced its full-year results this morning, reporting a 3% rise in cash earnings (to nearly $8.1 billion) and a final dividend of 94 cents per share, which is unchanged from last year.
Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI) also reported its full-year results, with net profit before individually material items slipping 1% to $386 million as the business endured "substantial headwinds".
Meanwhile, retail shares such as JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) and Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) could receive some attention after the ACCC gave Amazon.com the all-clear to offer massive discounting when it opens its doors for business in Australia. Some estimates suggest that could be sometime this month.
Some of last week's best and worst performers could be back in the spotlight again this week. That could include the likes of Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE) and Whitehaven Coal Limited (ASX: WHC), which both rose more than 13%, as well as Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR), which dropped 7%.
