SYDNEY, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Australia shares are set for a
boost on Thursday as strong company results and a rise in retail
sales in the U.S. boosted optimism the economic recovery may be
picking up speed.
Banks may gain after strong earnings from JP Morgan Chase helped the Dow Jones break the 10,000 mark for the first time in a year, while miner Rio Tinto may be in focus after a strong production report on Wednesday boosted its London shares over 5 percent.
Copper and oil prices also rose, likely to boost resources stocks, though gold prices came off an early record high.
Share index futures stood 1 percent higher at 4,886, a 54.9 point premium to the 4,831.1 close in the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index on Wednesday.
Another focus for the market will be a speech by Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens in Perth at 8 a.m. local time (0000 GMT). He is likely to express satisfaction with how the economy is faring, though is unlikely to be specific on where rates are heading.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rose 0.5 percent to 3,202.4 in early trade.
----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2104 GMT ------------
INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG S&P 500 1092.02 1.75% 18.830 USD/JPY 89.4 -0.32% -0.290
10-YR US TSY YLD 3.4136 -
0.074 SPOT GOLD 1062.5 -0.08% -0.850 US CRUDE 75.35 1.62% 1.200 DOW JONES 10015.86 1.47% 144.80 ASIA ADRS 126.42 2.10% 2.60
* Dow breaks 10,000 mark on earnings optimism
* Oil hits 2009 high on economic optimism
* Gold eases after hitting record on dollar, oil
* Copper gains on weak dollar, China imports
For a digest of the day's business stories in Australian newspapers, double click on
((Australia/New Zealand bureaux; +61 2 9373 1800/+64 4 471 4234))
DIARIES & DATA: IPO diary & data Asia earnings diary U.S. earnings diary European diary Australia diary Wall Street Week Ahead Eurostocks Week Ahead ................................................................ For latest top breaking news across all markets ................................................................ TOP NEWS SUMMARIES ON OTHER SUBJECTS | U.S. Companies | European Companies | | Forex | Global Economy | | Tech.Media,Telecoms | Banking, Financials | | Politics & General | Sports | ................................................................ MAJOR STOCK MARKET REPORTS New York Weekly outlook New York Pan-Europe Weekly outlook Europe London Weekly outlook London Tokyo ................................................................ ASIA STOCK MARKETS Pan-Asia...................... Bangkok...... Karachi........ S/east Asia. Bombay....... Kuala Lumpur... Sydney/NZ... China........ Seoul.......... Taipei...... Hong Kong.... Singapore...... Tokyo........ ................................................................ Access to some items may depend on subscription level. ................................................................ UP-TO-THE-MINUTE HEADLINES Company results Economic indicators Mergers & acquisitions Interest rates LIVE PRICES & DATA World Stocks Currency rates Dow Jones/NASDAQ Nikkei FTSE 100 Debt HOW TO FIND INFORMATION YOU NEED | | | | | || | | | LIVE PRICES & DATA: World Stocks Currency rates Dow Jones/NASDAQ Nikkei FTSE 100 Debt Australian dollar LME price overview Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA STOCKS (Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 For more information on Top News, please visit http://topnews.reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Banks may gain after strong earnings from JP Morgan Chase helped the Dow Jones break the 10,000 mark for the first time in a year, while miner Rio Tinto may be in focus after a strong production report on Wednesday boosted its London shares over 5 percent.
Copper and oil prices also rose, likely to boost resources stocks, though gold prices came off an early record high.
Share index futures stood 1 percent higher at 4,886, a 54.9 point premium to the 4,831.1 close in the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index on Wednesday.
Another focus for the market will be a speech by Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens in Perth at 8 a.m. local time (0000 GMT). He is likely to express satisfaction with how the economy is faring, though is unlikely to be specific on where rates are heading.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rose 0.5 percent to 3,202.4 in early trade.
----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2104 GMT ------------
INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG S&P 500 1092.02 1.75% 18.830 USD/JPY 89.4 -0.32% -0.290
10-YR US TSY YLD 3.4136 -
0.074 SPOT GOLD 1062.5 -0.08% -0.850 US CRUDE 75.35 1.62% 1.200 DOW JONES 10015.86 1.47% 144.80 ASIA ADRS 126.42 2.10% 2.60
* Dow breaks 10,000 mark on earnings optimism
* Oil hits 2009 high on economic optimism
* Gold eases after hitting record on dollar, oil
* Copper gains on weak dollar, China imports
For a digest of the day's business stories in Australian newspapers, double click on
((Australia/New Zealand bureaux; +61 2 9373 1800/+64 4 471 4234))
DIARIES & DATA: IPO diary & data Asia earnings diary U.S. earnings diary European diary Australia diary Wall Street Week Ahead Eurostocks Week Ahead ................................................................ For latest top breaking news across all markets ................................................................ TOP NEWS SUMMARIES ON OTHER SUBJECTS | U.S. Companies | European Companies | | Forex | Global Economy | | Tech.Media,Telecoms | Banking, Financials | | Politics & General | Sports | ................................................................ MAJOR STOCK MARKET REPORTS New York Weekly outlook New York Pan-Europe Weekly outlook Europe London Weekly outlook London Tokyo ................................................................ ASIA STOCK MARKETS Pan-Asia...................... Bangkok...... Karachi........ S/east Asia. Bombay....... Kuala Lumpur... Sydney/NZ... China........ Seoul.......... Taipei...... Hong Kong.... Singapore...... Tokyo........ ................................................................ Access to some items may depend on subscription level. ................................................................ UP-TO-THE-MINUTE HEADLINES Company results Economic indicators Mergers & acquisitions Interest rates LIVE PRICES & DATA World Stocks Currency rates Dow Jones/NASDAQ Nikkei FTSE 100 Debt HOW TO FIND INFORMATION YOU NEED | | | | | || | | | LIVE PRICES & DATA: World Stocks Currency rates Dow Jones/NASDAQ Nikkei FTSE 100 Debt Australian dollar LME price overview Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA STOCKS (Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit http://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 For more information on Top News, please visit http://topnews.reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
© 2009 AFX News
