On Thursday the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) snapped its losing streak and pushed 0.4% higher to 5,865.7 points.
Will the market be able to build on this and finish the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:
ASX futures pointing higher.
According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day higher on Friday. Current futures contracts are pointing to a 0.2% or 12-point gain at the open. This follows another mixed night of trade on Wall Street which late in the session sees the Dow Jones down 0.3%, the S&P 500 0.15% lower, and the Nasdaq up 0.35%.
Oil prices rebound.
Energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH) could be set for a positive finish to the week after oil prices rebounded. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.1% to US$53.21 a barrel and the Brent crude oil prices is 0.2% higher to US$61.24 a barrel.
ResMed second quarter results.
The ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD) share price will be on watch on Friday. Later this morning the sleep treatment focused medical device company is due to release its second quarter results. The market is expecting earnings per share of 93 U.S. cents and quarterly revenue of US$666.98 million
Amcor acquisition delayed by shutdown.
After the market close on Thursday packaging giant Amcor Limited (ASX: AMC) announced that it has made significant progress with its all-stock acquisition of Bemis Company. But due to delays in gaining antitrust approval because of the partial U.S. government shutdown, management now expects the transaction to close in the second quarter of 2019.
Coles named as a buy.
A note out of Goldman Sachs reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating but cut the price target on Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares to $14.30 following its supply chain update. The broker cut its price target after its estimated capex cost of $950 million came in materially higher than the broker's expectations.
