By Oliver Gray
Investing.com - The S&P/ASX 200 was slightly lower in Wednesday’s deals following a flat close in the previous session as investors remain cautious ahead of Australian CPI data set to be released later in the session. Meantime, U.S. stocks closed near record highs as earnings reports continue to roll in.
ASX 200 Futures were 16 points or 0.22% higher.
In coronavirus news, Victoria tallied 1534 cases, while New South Wales added 304 cases.
Among stocks, mining heavyweights were mostly lower, with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) and BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) down 0.83% and 0.68% respectively. Financials gained, with Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (ASX:CBA), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX:WBC) adding 0.67%, 1% and 1.16% respectively. Meantime, airlines moved higher amid surging flight sales as the country continues to ease travel restrictions. Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX:QAN) added 1.18%, Flight Centre Ltd (ASX:FLT) was up 0.31% and Sydney Airport Holdings Ltd (ASX:SYD) gained 0.43%
On the bond markets, Australia 10-Year yields were at 1.811% while United States 10-Year rates eased to 1.618%.
Coming up, the Australian Bureau of Statistics is set to release its September quarter consumer price index, expected to show an increase of 0.8% and 3% over the past year, as investors gauge fears that supply chain blockages across the world will drive up inflation faster than expected, in turn forcing the Reserve Bank to increase official interest rates.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 fell 0.32% to 13034.