MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Australian stocks are set for a cautious start higher on Monday as worries ease that top metals consumer China may step up monetary tightening to hold back demand and rein in inflation.
* Stock index futures rose 0.2 percent to 4,746.0, a 9.7-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index . The benchmark fell 27.98 points last Friday on worries about China growth worries.
* New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index inched up 0.1 percent to 3,356.2 in early trade.
* The Dow and S&P 500 rose on Friday as General Electric Co's earnings cast a positive light on the economic recovery, snapping a two-day losing skid for the benchmark index.
* Copper bounced nearly one percent on Friday, as the dollar weakened and as worries abated that top consumer China would step up monetary tightening and dampen demand.
* Gold prices fell for a second day as appetite strengthened for riskier assets such as equities on an improving economic outlook and diminished safe-haven buying.
* An Indian state consortium has deferred to Jan. 27 a decision on whether it will bid for Africa-focused coal miner Riversale against Rio Tinto's $3.9 billion takeover offer.
* Top retailer Woolworths releases second-quarter sales results on Monday, with investors looking to see how it fared through the crucial Christmas sales period following a surprise rate hike in November. Five analysts on average are expecting 2.4 percent growth in second-quarter core food and liquor sales.
----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2215 GMT ------------
INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG S&P 500 1283.35 0.24% 3.090 USD/JPY 82.56 0.04% 0.030 10-YR US TSY YLD 3.4081 -- 0.000 SPOT GOLD 1342.25 0.00% 0.000 US CRUDE 89.11 -0.54% -0.480 DOW JONES 11871.84 0.41% 49.04 ASIA ADRS 141.16 -1.04% -1.48 -------------------------------------------------------------
* GE lifts Dow, S&P 500 but S&P's 7-week streak ends
* Brent surges on euro zone optimism, weak dollar
* Gold notches third weekly loss as safe haven wanes
* Copper ends firm as China tightening fears ease
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 2011. 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 0.2 percent to 4,746.0, a 9.7-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index . The benchmark fell 27.98 points last Friday on worries about China growth worries.
* New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index inched up 0.1 percent to 3,356.2 in early trade.
* The Dow and S&P 500 rose on Friday as General Electric Co's earnings cast a positive light on the economic recovery, snapping a two-day losing skid for the benchmark index.
* Copper bounced nearly one percent on Friday, as the dollar weakened and as worries abated that top consumer China would step up monetary tightening and dampen demand.
* Gold prices fell for a second day as appetite strengthened for riskier assets such as equities on an improving economic outlook and diminished safe-haven buying.
* An Indian state consortium has deferred to Jan. 27 a decision on whether it will bid for Africa-focused coal miner Riversale against Rio Tinto's $3.9 billion takeover offer.
* Top retailer Woolworths releases second-quarter sales results on Monday, with investors looking to see how it fared through the crucial Christmas sales period following a surprise rate hike in November. Five analysts on average are expecting 2.4 percent growth in second-quarter core food and liquor sales.
----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2215 GMT ------------
INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG S&P 500 1283.35 0.24% 3.090 USD/JPY 82.56 0.04% 0.030 10-YR US TSY YLD 3.4081 -- 0.000 SPOT GOLD 1342.25 0.00% 0.000 US CRUDE 89.11 -0.54% -0.480 DOW JONES 11871.84 0.41% 49.04 ASIA ADRS 141.16 -1.04% -1.48 -------------------------------------------------------------
* GE lifts Dow, S&P 500 but S&P's 7-week streak ends
* Brent surges on euro zone optimism, weak dollar
* Gold notches third weekly loss as safe haven wanes
* Copper ends firm as China tightening fears ease
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 2011. 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.