US equities were mixed on Friday on the back of the AI rally starting to ease, as Fed officials continued to add commentary
The ASX200 is expected to open slightly higher on Monday, with ASX200 futures up +4 basis points or +0.053% at 7,605. The index closed +0.42% higher on Friday, led by gains in the information technology and consumer discretionary sectors which finished +1.51% and 1.49% higher, while the Australian dollar was relatively unchanged at -0.06%.
In stocks on Friday, Block, owner of Afterpay, rose 16.5% on the back of announcing a December quarter revenue that beat analysts’ expectations. While Aussie Broadband finished 18.6% higher after it beat forecasts for internet subscriber and profit growth.
In local economic data this week, investors will be focusing on the latest monthly CPI indicator scheduled to be released on Wednesday, with the markets forecasting a reading of 3.6% an increase on the previous 3.4%. To round off the week, investors will be keeping an eye on the latest retail sales data on Thursday which is expected to show retail sales rose +1.6% on the month.
Oil prices were lower at the close, as demand concerns grew on the back of comments from Fed officials suggesting rates might stay higher for longer, with WTI crude and Brent falling -2.70% and -2.05% to US$76.49 and US$81.62 a barrel. Iron ore futures in Singapore rose +0.30% on Friday to US$120.04 and are relatively unchanged at -0.03% this morning, while copper fell -0.44%. Gold rose +0.54% at US$2.035.40 an oz with silver +0.88% higher, while Bitcoin fell -1.30% on Friday and rose +1.40% over the weekend to finish at 51,695.29.