MELBOURNE, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Australian stocks are set to
open flat on Monday, with all eyes on U.S. elections, possible
new monetary stimulus from the U.S. Federal Reserve and an
Australian interest-rate decision due on Tuesday.
* Stock index futures rose 0.4 percent to 4,664.0, a
2.4
point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index. The benchmark index ended October up 1.7 percent after closing lower on Friday.
* New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index picked up less than a point in early trade, holding at 3,305.3.
* U.S. stocks were flat on Friday as investors awaited the prospect of more monetary stimulus from the Fed and elections that could change the balance of power in Washington.
* Copper led a broad retreat in base metals prices on Friday, falling to its lowest level in three weeks, as markets cut risk and investors remained cautious ahead of the pivotal Fed meeting.
* BHP Billiton will be in focus, with uncertainty over a Canadian decision due on Wednesday on whether it can go ahead with its $39 billion bid for Potash Corp. The UK Sunday Times reported BHP was considering raising its $130 a share offer by 10 percent.
* Bourse operator ASX's shares could bounce after Australia's prime minister urged bipartisan support for keeping Australia open to foreign investment amid calls in parliament to oppose Singapore Exchange's takeover offer for ASX.
* The Reserve Bank of Australia holds its monthly meeting on Tuesday, with the market increasingly expecting it to hold rates steady at 4.5 percent for a sixth straight month. ----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2139 GMT ------------
INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG S&P 500 1183.26 -0.04% -0.520 USD/JPY 80.27 -0.77% -0.620
10-YR US TSY YLD 2.6029 -
0.000 SPOT GOLD 1357.05 0.00% 0.000 US CRUDE 81.43 -0.91% -0.750 DOW JONES 11118.49 0.04% 4.54 ASIA ADRS 132.33 -0.33% -0.44
* Dow, S&P flat ahead of Fed, midterm elections
* Oil slides on tepid growth, awaits Fed meeting
* Gold rises 1 pct as dollar slumps ahead of Fed
* Copper ends lower, hits 3-week low ahead of Fed
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 2010. 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.
* Stock index futures rose 0.4 percent to 4,664.0, a
2.4
point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index. The benchmark index ended October up 1.7 percent after closing lower on Friday.
* New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index picked up less than a point in early trade, holding at 3,305.3.
* U.S. stocks were flat on Friday as investors awaited the prospect of more monetary stimulus from the Fed and elections that could change the balance of power in Washington.
* Copper led a broad retreat in base metals prices on Friday, falling to its lowest level in three weeks, as markets cut risk and investors remained cautious ahead of the pivotal Fed meeting.
* BHP Billiton will be in focus, with uncertainty over a Canadian decision due on Wednesday on whether it can go ahead with its $39 billion bid for Potash Corp. The UK Sunday Times reported BHP was considering raising its $130 a share offer by 10 percent.
* Bourse operator ASX's shares could bounce after Australia's prime minister urged bipartisan support for keeping Australia open to foreign investment amid calls in parliament to oppose Singapore Exchange's takeover offer for ASX.
* The Reserve Bank of Australia holds its monthly meeting on Tuesday, with the market increasingly expecting it to hold rates steady at 4.5 percent for a sixth straight month. ----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2139 GMT ------------
INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG S&P 500 1183.26 -0.04% -0.520 USD/JPY 80.27 -0.77% -0.620
10-YR US TSY YLD 2.6029 -
0.000 SPOT GOLD 1357.05 0.00% 0.000 US CRUDE 81.43 -0.91% -0.750 DOW JONES 11118.49 0.04% 4.54 ASIA ADRS 132.33 -0.33% -0.44
* Dow, S&P flat ahead of Fed, midterm elections
* Oil slides on tepid growth, awaits Fed meeting
* Gold rises 1 pct as dollar slumps ahead of Fed
* Copper ends lower, hits 3-week low ahead of Fed
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 2010. 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.