The ASX 200 is set to rise after the S&P 500 scored its third straight week of gains. Energy was the best-performing sector on the S&P 500 last Friday, up 2.1% thanks to a bounce in energy prices.
Uranium is leading the way and uranium spot prices continued to climb towards the key US$80 overnight. The Global X Uranium (NYSE:URA) ETF rallied 2.1% to mark its highest close since November 2021.
ASX 200 futures are trading 28 points higher, up 0.39% as of 8:20 am AEST.
What happened last week? (source Commsec)
US markets experience marginal rise amid mixed signals
US markets witnessed a slight increase on Friday, as investors assimilated recent advances amid mixed signals from US Federal Reserve officials regarding the timeline for potential interest rate reductions.
Michael Barr, vice chair for Supervision at the Fed, expressed his belief that the peak of interest rate hikes is imminent or already reached.
However, this view was contrasted by Mary Daly of the San Francisco Fed and Susan Collins, president of the Boston Fed, who emphasized the necessity for further signs of decreasing inflation.
Shares of Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) saw a 4% decline following its third-quarter report and revelations of a US Justice Department investigation into potential export control violations to China.
Conversely, Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) experienced a 7.2% surge after raising its annual earnings forecast, having surpassed third-quarter sales and profit expectations. Gap also witnessed a significant 30.6% jump following its better-than-expected third-quarter results.
- The Dow Jones index modestly increased by 2 points or 0.01%.
- The S&P 500 index rose by 0.1%.
- The Nasdaq index gained 12 points or 0.1%.
- Over the week, the Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq marked their third consecutive week of gains, rising by 1.9%, 2.2%, and 2.4% respectively.
European markets close higher; mining stocks lead gains
European markets finished higher on Friday, buoyed by a 1.8% rise in mining stocks driven by robust copper prices. The annual consumer price inflation in the eurozone dropped to 2.9% in October, down from 4.3% in September, aligning with forecasts.
Volvo Cars' shares fell by 11.1% following the sale of a stake in the Swedish automaker by its majority shareholder, China's Geely.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index across Europe climbed by 1%, achieving a 2.7% gain for the week.
In the UK, the FTSE 100 index in London saw a 1.3% increase, ending the week 2% higher. October's British retail sales showed a 0.3% decline, contrary to the anticipated 0.4% rise, fueling speculation that interest rate hikes might have reached their zenith.
Currencies
Were stronger against the US dollar in European and US trade.
- The Euro rose from US$1.0823 to US$1.0913 and was near US$1.0905 at the US close.
- The Aussie dollar lifted from US64.53 cents to US65.15 cents and was near US65.10 cents at
- the US close.
- The Japanese yen firmed from 150.69 yen per US dollar to JPY149.20 and was near JPY149.60 at the US close.
Commodities
Global oil prices jumped 4.1% on Friday, rebounding from a four-month low, as investors who had taken short positions took profits. Prices also rose after the US imposed sanctions on maritime companies and vessels for shipping Russian oil sold above the Group of Seven's price cap.
- The Brent crude price rose by US$3.19 or 4.1% to US$80.61 a barrel.
- The US Nymex crude price added US$2.99 or 4.1% to $75.89 a barrel.
- Both benchmarks ended the week more than 1% lower, their fourth straight weekly decline.
- Base metal prices were mixed on Friday.
- Copper futures rose by 0.9% but aluminium futures slid 0.1%.
- For the week, copper gained 4.3% after First Quantum Minerals (TSX:FQM) reduced ore processing at Cobre Panama. Aluminium lost 1.3%.
- The gold futures price dipped US$2.60 or 0.1% to US$1,984.70 an ounce.
- Spot gold was trading near US$1,980 an ounce at the US close. Bullion was up 2.4% for the week.
- Iron ore futures shed US47 cents or 0.4% to US$128.95 a tonne as property woes in China continued to linger. But iron ore still gained 0.7% for the week.
What about small caps?
The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries finished 0.26% down on Friday but was up 1.31% for the week.
It has been a slow start for newsflow this morning, however, you can read about the following and more throughout the day.