It looks set to be another busy week of trade on the Australian share market this week.
Here are the key highlights that I will be looking out for:
Monday.
It looks set to be a quiet but positive start to the week today following a solid finish on Wall Street on Friday. In addition to this, oil prices rose strongly at the end of the week, which could give BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) shares a lift. Elsewhere, the shares of Auckland International Airport Limited (ASX: AIA) and Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) go ex-dividend this morning.
Tuesday.
On Tuesday the TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM) half-year result will be released. According to a note out of Citi last week, the broker expects the telco company to reaffirm its prior underlying EBITDA guidance of $800 million to $815 million for FY 2018. It also expects a progress update on the construction and launch plans for its Australian mobile network. Also in the news will be the shares of Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX: CWN) which go ex-dividend.
Wednesday.
On Wednesday Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR) is expected to release its half-year results. Shareholders are no doubt bracing themselves for something terrible after its numerous profit guidance downgrades over the last 12 months. On Wednesday night the U.S. Federal Reserve will meet to decide on interest rates. A 25-basis point rise to between 1.5% and 1.75% is rated as a near certainty, so investors are likely to be focusing more on its accompanying statement which may offer and idea as to how many more hikes are coming this year.
Thursday.
If the U.S. Federal Reserve hints at four rate hikes in 2018 then markets could become choppy on Thursday. Especially bond proxies such as Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), Sydney Airport Holdings Pty Ltd (ASX: SYD), and Vicinity Centres Re Ltd (ASX: VCX). In addition to this, the shares of Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) go ex-dividend on Thursday morning, Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) is due to release its results, and Australian job data will be released at 11:30am AEDT. In respect to the latter, the unemployment rate is expected to remain flat at 5.5%.
Friday.
No less than 20 shares are due to pay their dividends on this day including the likes of G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM) and Greencross Limited (ASX: GXL). But other than that, it looks set to be a quiet finish to the week with no notable events taking place.
