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The ASX200 is not expected to do anything too dramatic this morning, futures tipping a rise not even reaching 0.1 per cent (0.09%).
For investors, the challenge will be wading through a flood of earnings updates.
US markets made gains overnight, to start a week where mega cap company earnings reports are due, along with the next interest rates decision.
In a particularly grand performance, Tesla added more than 15 per cent as it received the green light to progress its driver-assistance system in China.
The Nasdaq and S&P500 both added nearly a third of a per cent and the Dow Jones, 0.38%.
Aussie retail sales data for March is due out at 11.30am eastern states time.
In stocks to watch:
BHP Group (ASX:BHP) has provided an update to ongoing settlement obligations in relation to the Samarco dam collapse in Brazil; Heartland Group Holdings (ASX:HGH) has received regulatory approvals to acquire Challenger Bank from Challenger Ltd (ASX:CGF).
Industrial Minerals (ASX:IND) has acquired an exploration licence covering an historical quartz and feldspar quarry at Mukinbudin, 250km north-east of Perth, in a $20,000 cash plus royalty deal with METs Engineering. It reports that test work’s already been done on producing alumina and potash.
And Sihayo Gold (ASX:SIH) shareholder Provident Minerals has announced it intends to make a takeover bid. Parent company Provident Aurum already holds more than 40 per cent of the voting power. The offer will value shares at 0.225 cents far above Sihayo’s last price of 0.001 cent.
One Aussie dollar is buying US 65.6 cents.
Iron ore has been trading at US$110 a tonne, gold is also steady at US$2335, brent crude is down more than a per cent to around US$88.30 a barrel, but natural gas added strength with a rise of nearly 7 per cent overnight to well above US$2 ($2.05) per million British thermal units.
