Australian shares slid towards their first loss in four sessions after a technical hitch delayed the start of trade.
At 1pm EST the ASX 200 was 20 points or 0.4% weaker at 5277 as gains in gold +1.4% and metals & mining +0.2% were outweighed by declines in consumer discretionary -1%, IT -0.0% and financials - 0.4%.
The start of trade was delayed by an hour and a half due to a problem at the ASX with a component. Read more here.
The mood was brighter in Asia, where China's Shanghai Composite rallied 0.56%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng 0.63% and Japan's Nikkei 0.7%.
US equity futures were boosted by a positive start to the week in key commodities. Dow futures were recently ahead 56 points or 0.31%. Crude oil futures surged 80 cents or 1.83% this morning to US$43.83 a barrel. Gold futures were $8.90 or 0.68% stronger at US$1,319.10 an ounce. The dollar was buying 75.31 US cents.
Nothing like technical problems to dampen trading. I haven't had a sniff of a buy and am interpreting that and the delay as signs that God wants me to take a nap. Top bloke.
