The ASX200 is set to open almost flat today (with a rise of 0.04%), after weaker performances on US bourses following a hotter-than-expected inflation reading which added uncertainty to the likely actions of the Federal Reserve at its November meeting.
The S&P 500 and Dow Jones fell 0.1% and 0.2% respectively- with this result following records set during the previous session – and the Nasdaq ended the session slightly down. The consumer price index was 0.2% higher in September – a greater number than expected – while annual inflation rose to 2.4%. Despite this, there appears to be disagreement among Fed officials about cutting rates again in November, with some preferring to keep them steady.
On the ASX, Golden Deeps Ltd (ASX:GED) has reported thick intersections of copper and zinc which also contain silver and gold from its Havilah project in New South Wales, and Ragnar Metals Ltd (ASX:RAG) has found an 11.5 metre outcropping spodumene-hosting pegmatite at its Orrvik lithium project in Sweden, with assays from channel sampling revealing 1.45% lithium oxide (Li2O), in addition to tantalum pentoxide and tin.
To commodities – all in US $ here: Iron ore is $106.53 on the Singapore Exchange, gold’s trading at $2630, Brent crude has risen to $78.92 & natural gas is also higher at $2.68 a gigajoule.
One Aussie dollar is buying just over 67 US cents.