On Thursday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was back on form and stormed higher. The benchmark index climbed 0.7% to 7,256.7 points.
Will the market be able to build on this on Friday? Here are five things to watch:
ASX 200 expected to rise again
The Australian share market looks set to end the week on a positive note. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 44 points or 0.6% higher. This follows a strong night of trade on Wall Street, which late on sees the Dow Jones up 1.15%, the S&P 500 1% higher, and the Nasdaq up 1.3%.
EML Payments' Ireland update
The EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML) share price will be on watch on Friday after releasing a regulatory update on its PFS Card Services (Ireland) business. EML said: "The nature of these potential directions are more limited than those originally foreshadowed by the CBI [Central Bank of Ireland] in May 2021. However, as presently framed, EML considers that the direction could materially impact the European operations of the Prepaid Financial Services (PFS) business."
Oil prices rise
Energy producers including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could have a strong finish to the week after oil prices charged higher. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.8% to US$78.84 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.7% to US$82.50 a barrel.
Dividends being paid
It is payday for the shareholders of a number of popular ASX 200 shares. Among the shares paying dividends are Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS), Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).
Gold price falls
Gold miners Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) could end the week in the red after the gold price dropped. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down 0.3% to US$1,755.50 an ounce. Improving investor sentiment is weighing on demand for the safe haven asset.
