On Friday the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) finished the week with a daily gain of 0.1% at 6,066.1 points.
Will the local market be able to build on this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:
ASX futures pointing higher.
The Australian share market is expected to open the day notably higher after a positive finish to the week on Wall Street following positive trade talk developments. At present SPI futures are pointing to a gain of 0.9% or 53 points at the open. On Friday the Dow Jones climbed 1.7%, the S&P 500 rose 1.1%, and the Nasdaq was up 0.6%.
Altium results.
Electronic design software platform provider Altium Limited (ASX: ALU) is scheduled to release its half year results after the market closes. The Altium share price has been on fire in 2019, rising 24% since the turn of the year. The market clearly has high expectations for these results, but Altium has a long track record of delivering.
Oil prices zoom higher.
Oil Search Limited (ASX: OSH) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares could push higher today after oil prices finished the week on a positive note. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price rose 2.2% to US$55.59 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price pushed 2.6% higher to US$66.25 a barrel. Positive trade talks between the U.S. and China appears to have been the catalyst for the buying.
NIB results.
Hot on the heels of the Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) half year results last week comes the result of rival NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF). The Medibank result was stronger than the market expected, so all eyes will be on whether NIB was able to outperform expectations as well.
Other results due to be released.
The likes of health and safety equipment provider Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN), supply chain logistics company Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB), and salary packaging and fleet management company Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ) are all due to release their respective results on Monday.
