ASX Poised for Gains Amid Nasdaq Surge and Global Market Strength

Key Highlights: 

• Strong Global Market Performance: US and European markets show robust growth, with the Nasdaq hitting a new all-time high. The S&P 500 and European aerospace stocks also saw notable gains, setting a positive tone for the ASX. 
• Inflation Data and Central Bank Decisions: US inflation rose 2.7% in November, raising expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut. Meanwhile, European investors are keenly awaiting the ECB's rate decision later today. 
• Commodities and Currencies: Global oil prices rise amid EU sanctions on Russian oil, while gold futures climb following inflation data. Currencies show mixed movements, with the US dollar weakening against the Euro and Aussie dollar. 

Global markets saw a strong overnight performance, with the Nasdaq surpassing the 20,000-point milestone for the first time, driving significant gains in tech and growth stocks. This positive momentum is expected to carry over to the ASX, with futures indicating a 0.5% rise or 38 points at the open. 

In the US, inflation data for November showed a 2.7% increase, edging closer to the Federal Reserve's 2% target. This has heightened expectations of a potential interest rate cut at next week's Federal Reserve meeting. Meanwhile, European markets are closely watching the European Central Bank's (ECB) rate decision, with speculation that the ECB may lower rates by 25 basis points. 

US and European Markets: 

The Nasdaq's rally saw major tech stocks surge, with Alphabet climbing 5.5%, Tesla rising 5.9%, and Nvidia gaining 3.1%. Broadcom also saw a notable 6.6% jump, fueled by reports of its collaboration with Apple on AI-focused server chips. However, concerns surrounding UnitedHealth dragged down the Dow, causing it to drop by 0.2%. 

In Europe, aerospace and defense stocks stood out, climbing 1.4%, benefitting from heightened geopolitical tensions. The broader European market saw modest gains, with the FTSE300 and FTSE100 both rising by 0.3%. 

Currencies and Commodities: 

On the currency front, the US dollar experienced mixed movements. The greenback weakened against the Euro and Australian dollar but fell against the Japanese Yen. Commodity prices also showed volatility, with oil prices rising following new sanctions on Russian oil. Brent crude gained $1.33, closing at $73.52 per barrel, while US Nymex crude rose $1.70 to $70.29 per barrel. 

Gold prices surged by $38.30, trading at $2,756.70 per ounce, boosted by the inflation report, while iron ore futures retreated slightly due to weaker steel demand and cautious sentiment about China's stimulus measures. 

Small Cap Updates: 

On the ASX Small Ordinaries front, the index saw a slight decline of 0.14% yesterday, outperforming the broader ASX200 which fell by 0.5%. Notable developments included: 

• Helix Resources Ltd (ASX:HLX): The company identified significant gold extensions at its Muriel Tank Gold Project, with rock chip samples showing up to 17.92 g/t gold. 

• Great Boulder Resources Ltd (ASX:GBR): Discovery of new high-grade gold mineralisation at the Mulga Bill prospect, part of the Side Well Gold Project, with drilling results up to 6.03 g/t gold. 

• Orthocell Ltd (ASX:OCC): The company achieved a commercial milestone with its first sales of the Remplir nerve repair product in Singapore, marking its third major market. 

This diverse array of news points to a dynamic trading environment, as investors track global market developments, central bank decisions, and sector-specific updates across commodities and small-cap stocks.