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On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX:XJO) bounced back after a selloff, rising by 0.45% to reach 7,817.3 points.
However, the Australian share market appears poised to end the week on a negative note following a poor performance on Wall Street. SPI futures suggest that the ASX 200 is likely to open 0.65% lower, or around 50 points down. In late trade on Wall Street, major indices such as the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and NASDAQ were all down by significant percentages, with nervous investors selling off stocks ahead of the US jobs report.
Energy shares on the ASX, including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR), may see a positive finish to the week as oil prices rose overnight. WTI crude oil price increased by 1.45% to US$86.66 a barrel, while Brent crude oil price rose by 1.6% to US$90.81 a barrel. This uptick in oil prices was driven by reports of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with Israeli embassies on high alert following threats from Iran.
On the other hand, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are likely to face pressure as iron ore prices weakened again. The spot price of the benchmark 62% fines iron ore dropped by 1.5% to US$98.00 a tonne, leading to a decline in the NYSE-listed shares of these mining giants.
ASX 200 gold shares such as Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) may experience a subdued session as the gold price edged lower to US$2,314.5 an ounce. Traders appeared to be locking in gains after the precious metal reached a record high.
Lastly, several ASX 200 companies are set to reward their shareholders with dividend payments today. These include Auckland International Airport Limited (ASX:AIA), Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX:CTD), Evolution Mining, Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX:PRU), and Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX:RHC), which is paying a 40 cents per share fully franked dividend.
