The ASX200 is set to open a third of a percent (0.27%) higher on Wednesday, echoing a buoyant performance on Wall Street.
US stocks ended Tuesday higher, influenced by positive reports which suggested a major trade deal could be completed soon, in addition to strong corporate earnings and despite a weaker-than expected jobs report. The S&P 500 was up by 0.58%, this being its sixth consecutive gain and longest winning streak since November. The Dow Jones increased 300 points, or 0.75%, its best streak since July, while the Nasdaq rose 0.55%
Closer to home, we have CPI data for the March quarter due for release later today. This is expected to show core inflation returning to the preferred band according to the Reserve Bank.
On the ASX, Battery Age Minerals Ltd (ASX:BM8) has begun geophysics and surface geochemistry work at El Aguila gold and silver project in Argentina, St Barbara Ltd (ASX:SBM) has confirmed an expansion of 200,000 ounces per annum for the Simberi gold mine in Papua New Guinea, based on prefeasibility work, and DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX:DGT) has announced the resignation of Mark Arbib from its board following his appointment as chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee.
To commodities – all in US $ here: Iron ore is $98.55 on the Singapore Exchange, gold’s trading at $3321, Brent crude is $63.95 & natural gas is $3.38 a gigajoule.
One Aussie dollar is buying 63.86 US cents.
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