MELBOURNE, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Australian stocks are poised
to open slightly higher on Monday, buoyed by the top miners on
stronger metals prices, but gains are likely to be limited on
concerns over the revolt in Libya cutting oil supplies, driving
up oil prices and slowing growth.
* Stock index futures rose 0.4 percent to 4,839.0, a 2.5-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index . The benchmark rose 0.6 percent on Friday, breaking a five-day losing streak.
* New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index lost 2 points to 3,361.8 in early trade.
* U.S. stocks rose on Friday, bouncing back from a three-day sell-off as oil prices stabilized, but unease over the Libyan rebellion could be enough to keep buying in check.
* Copper posted its biggest daily advance in three months on Friday, as buyers for the industrial metal emerged after energy prices retreated from this week's sharp rally, calming worries about inflation and the global economy. Gold rose towards $1,410 an ounce on Friday.
* In Libya, leader Muammar Gaddafi vowed to cling to his
41-year
old rule while armed rebels opposed to him were in control of Zawiyah, close to the capital Tripoli.
* The local reporting season winds down, with top insurer QBE releasing its full year results and top coal transporter QR National releasing its maiden first-half profit as a listed company.
* Engineering contractor Downer EDI is lining up an equity raising of A$279 million through a rights offer, the firm said on Monday, after The Australian newspaper reported it has run into cost blowouts on a A$1.9 billion contract to supply trains for Sydney's suburban network.
----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2046 GMT ------------
INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG S&P 500 1319.88 1.06% 13.780 USD/JPY 81.71 -0.32% -0.260
10-YR US TSY YLD 3.4162 -
0.000SPOT GOLD 1409.15 0.16% 2.210 US CRUDE 97.88 0.62% 0.600 DOW JONES 12130.45 0.51% 61.95 ASIA ADRS 144.25 1.49% 2.12
* Wall St rebounds from sell-off, but down for week
* Brent crude above $112, Saudi output limits gain
* Gold posts 4th straight weekly gain on oil, unrest
* Copper posts big gain as energy prices stabilize
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 0.4 percent to 4,839.0, a 2.5-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index . The benchmark rose 0.6 percent on Friday, breaking a five-day losing streak.
* New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index lost 2 points to 3,361.8 in early trade.
* U.S. stocks rose on Friday, bouncing back from a three-day sell-off as oil prices stabilized, but unease over the Libyan rebellion could be enough to keep buying in check.
* Copper posted its biggest daily advance in three months on Friday, as buyers for the industrial metal emerged after energy prices retreated from this week's sharp rally, calming worries about inflation and the global economy. Gold rose towards $1,410 an ounce on Friday.
* In Libya, leader Muammar Gaddafi vowed to cling to his
41-year
old rule while armed rebels opposed to him were in control of Zawiyah, close to the capital Tripoli.
* The local reporting season winds down, with top insurer QBE releasing its full year results and top coal transporter QR National releasing its maiden first-half profit as a listed company.
* Engineering contractor Downer EDI is lining up an equity raising of A$279 million through a rights offer, the firm said on Monday, after The Australian newspaper reported it has run into cost blowouts on a A$1.9 billion contract to supply trains for Sydney's suburban network.
----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2046 GMT ------------
INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG S&P 500 1319.88 1.06% 13.780 USD/JPY 81.71 -0.32% -0.260
10-YR US TSY YLD 3.4162 -
0.000SPOT GOLD 1409.15 0.16% 2.210 US CRUDE 97.88 0.62% 0.600 DOW JONES 12130.45 0.51% 61.95 ASIA ADRS 144.25 1.49% 2.12
* Wall St rebounds from sell-off, but down for week
* Brent crude above $112, Saudi output limits gain
* Gold posts 4th straight weekly gain on oil, unrest
* Copper posts big gain as energy prices stabilize
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.