5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) and Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX:CWN) shares will be on watch on the ASX 200 on Monday…

A male ASX 200 broker wearing a blue shirt and black tie holds one hand to his chin with the other arm crossed across his body as he watches stock prices on a digital screen while deep in thought

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On Friday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished a solid week on a positive note. The benchmark index rose 0.3% to 7,080.8 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 futures pointing lower

The Australian share market looks set to start the week with a small decline despite a solid finish on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the week 4 points lower this morning. On Wall Street on Friday, the Dow Jones rose 0.65%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.75%, and the Nasdaq stormed 0.9%.

Crown-Star merger

Both the Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX: CWN) share price and the Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) share price will be ones to watch closely amid speculation the latter has tabled a merger proposal. According to the SMH, Star is proposing a $12 billion merger that would create a gambling and hospitality giant.

Oil prices rise

Energy producers such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could start the week on a positive note after oil prices pushed higher. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price rose 0.3% to US$64.90 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price climbed 0.3% to US$68.28 a barrel. Oil prices added 2% for the week.

Gold price pushes higher

Gold miners including Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) will be on watch today after the gold price stormed higher on Friday night. According to CNBC, the spot gold price recorded a 0.85% gain to US$1,767.0 an ounce. The precious metal had its best week in six months.

Iron ore price jumps again

The shares of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) could be on the rise today after the iron ore price continued its ascent. According to Metal Bulletin, the spot iron ore price rose US$10.37 per tonne or 5.1% to US$212.25 per tonne on Friday night.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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