ASX futures were up 0.3% this morning with shares pointing on an upwards trajectory at the opening of the bourse after New York closed in the green overnight with the S&P500 up 0.5% and breaking through the 5200 points barrier.
The Dow gained 0.9% and the Nasdaq was 0.3% up at close.
This came after demand for the sale of 30-year US Treasuries were higher than anticipated with all US$125 billion dollar in new bond supply taken up and data revealing that the number of unemployed Americans signing on for benefits leapt to its highest level in 8 months last week.
China will release its first quarter current account data today followed by the UK.
Suncorp Group (ASX:SUN) reported an $85 million increase in 90-days past due bad loans for the March quarter to $510 million, applicable to both commercial and residential transactions.
QBE (ASX: QBE) reaffirmed its full year outlook and ascribed mid-single digit growth figures to rate increases.
Stockholders of insurance business Helia (ASX:HLI) have also said they will buy back up to $100million in shares, representing a reduction of 9% of issued capital.
Western Cape Premier Roger Cook is poised to increase infrastructure spending with the state already having already spent billions on cost of living and housing to accommodate the record 95,000 people who moved west last year.
The Australian dollar was trading at 66 US cents. Gold was US$2335/oz, Brent Crude was fetching $83 a barrel and iron ore $116 a tonne.
