S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) (ASX:XJO) has rallied back from its morning low to finish flat at 5,941.
4.10pm: ASX 200 finishes flat
The ASX 200 finished the day flat, down just 0.7 points to 5,940.9.
One of the big gainers for the day was software company Altium Limited (ASX:ALU) up 26.7% to $18.88.
2.59pm: ASX 200 down 0.1%
The ASX 200 is down 0.1% or 9 points to 5,932.
Interestingly, although China share markets are closed, their futures took a jolt at midday AEST time.
China A50 Futures lost 2% and dipped from 13,737 down to 13,476 but have since recovered some of the losses to be now down 1%.
12.46pm: ASX 200 down 0.3%
The ASX 200 is down 0.3% or 15 points to 5,926.
It has been trying to rally off the low of 5,912 it hit this morning around 11.15am.
AVJ and MND are trading positively after good results however GXL and VOC failed to impress the market.
[VIDEO] Mid-Session 20 Feb 18: ASX 200 retreats as miners respond to prospect of US tariffs https://t.co/55CrozXoOs #ausbiz
— CommSec (@CommSec) February 20, 2018
10.50am: ASX 200 down 0.4%
The ASX 200 is down 0.4% or 25 points to 5,916.
The worst performing sectors this morning so far are Materials, Healthcare and Telecommunications.
Pre-market wrap: S&P/ASX 200 set to open slightly lower according to futures
S&P/ASX 200 was set to open slightly lower earlier today with the ASX 200 futures down to 5,866.5, roughly 35 points lower than yesterday’s XJO close.
The Dow (INDEXDJX:DJI) didn’t trade last night due to there being a long weekend in the US.
The AUDUSD was largely unchanged at 0.7911.
Gold has continued to give back some of its recent gains, down to US$1,348.90 and WTI Crude Oil is trading up 1.35% over the past 24 hours to US$62.38 per barrel.
AVJ, GXL, NST, GEM, MND, VOC and BHP report today
Companies of note reporting results today include:
• Avjennings Ltd (ASX:AVJ);
• Greencross Limited (ASX:GXL);
• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX:NST);
• G8 Education Ltd (ASX:GEM);
• Monadelphous Group Limited (ASX:MND);
• Vocus Group Ltd (ASX:VOC); and
• BHP Billiton Limited (ASX:BHP).
BHP will release its result after-market this afternoon.
Upcoming economic data: RBA board meeting minutes
At 11.30am AEST, the RBA will release the minutes from its most recent monetary policy meeting.
Minutes of the monetary policy meetings of the RBA board are published two weeks after each meeting, and explain the monetary policy decision.
The board normally meets eleven times each year, on the first Tuesday of each month, except January.
Furthermore, this morning in Sydney, the RBA Assistant Governor Michele Bullock is due to speak at the Responsible Lending and Borrowing Summit.
Audience questions expected.
Investor Signposts: CommSec Senior Economist Ryan Felsman takes a look at the economic data out this week- Dec wage prices, RBA Board Minutes & US Existing Home Saleshttps://t.co/PJnWmOHE1u#ausbiz#auspol
— CommSec (@CommSec) February 18, 2018