The ASX200 is set to take a step back today, dropping about a quarter of a per cent after US markets all lost close to that amount overnight.
The chipmakers all had a strong session, Micron Technology added 7 per cent, Arm gained 4 per cent and Nvidia was up yet another per cent.
United Airlines lost 4 per cent as it became clear that operations will be closed watched by the Federal Aviation Administration due to recent safety incidents, including a tyre falling off, an engine fire and aluminium falling from a plane mid-flight.
In ASX-listed companies to watch this morning:
Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) has released an update on its Lockyer-5 gas development in the Perth Basin, claiming it ‘has yielded exceptional results’.
Uranium play Adavale Resources (ASX:ADD) has acquired a new licence in northern South Australia abutting its existing project. Licence EL6553 was held by two geologists who previously served with Cauldron Energy (ASX:CXU). They’ve agreed to a deal including $15,000 cash and 50-million shares.
And Athena Resources (ASX:AHN) has received a letter of offer from OTC-listed Entertainment Holdings to acquire two in every 10 shares its doesn’t already hold for point-three of a cent. Management is urging shareholders not to take action around the offer. Athena has an iron ore project near Geraldton in WA.
To a different commodity today, and by far the strongest performer this year so far is Cocoa. It’s trading at just under US$9650 a tonne and is up more than 230 per cent year on year. It doesn’t look good for the price of chocolate.
One Aussie dollar is trading at US65.3 cents.
Gold is at US$2171, iron ore has picked up 3 per cent to US $111.50, brent crude is up 1.5 per cent to $86.68 a barrel and natural gas has shed nearly 3 per cent to US$1.61.
