On Friday the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) finished the week with a 0.2% push higher to 6,339.2 points.
Will the local market be able to build on this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:
ASX futures pointing higher.
According to the latest SPI futures, the Australian share market is expected to open the day 0.4% or 28 points higher on Monday after a positive end to the week on Wall Street. The Dow Jones rose 0.4%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.3%, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.1% higher after global trade war fears eased. U.S. and Chinese officials plan to meet and discuss trade issues in November.
Oil prices push higher.
The shares of Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could be on the move today after oil prices continued their recovery. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price climbed 0.7% to US$65.91 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price climbed almost 0.6% to US$71.83 a barrel.
Woolworth results.
This morning Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) is scheduled to release its full-year results. According to the Bloomberg consensus estimate, the conglomerate is expected to post a net profit after tax of $1,750 million and declare a 92.9 cents per shares full-year dividend.
More results due to be release.
As well as Woolworths, results are expected to be released this morning from printed circuit board design software provider Altium Limited (ASX: ALU), health and safety products company Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN), struggling pet care company Greencross Limited (ASX: GXL), and private health insurer NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF). The market has high expectations for Altium's results after a stellar share price rally over the last 12 months.
Shares going ex-dividend.
A few popular blue chip shares will go ex-dividend this morning for their respective pay outs. These include Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP), IOOF Holdings Limited (ASX: IFL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES). The latter's $1.20 per share dividend will then be paid to eligible shareholders on September 27.
