The S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) is expected to open flat this morning, with SPI futures pointing to a 0.13% open. Overnight, the S&P 500 (INDEX: .INX) ended flat. Here’s what you missed yesterday.
Amcor (ASX: AMC) in global merger, Santos (STO) drops
The ASX 200 markets struggled on Wednesday as concerns of an escalation of war between Ukraine and Russia hit sentiment, sending the S&P/ASX200 down 0.6 per cent. The weakness came as Ukraine fired long-range missiles into Russia for the first time.
The ASX’s utilities sector was a rare winner, led by Origin Energy (ASX: ORG) which posted a 0.2 per cent gain. The industrial sector on the other hand was hit, as shares in packaging group Amcor Ltd (ASX:AMC) fell after announcing a major merger bid. Amcor is set to acquire Berry Group, a major US player in the sector, in a $13 billion bid that is among the largest in Australian history.
The group will nearly double its 212 plants and see staff numbers increase to 75,000 as they seek to offset slowing demand, with greater scale. Santos (ASX: STO) continued to fall, dropping 0.7 per cent, as increasing oil stock piles saw investors pause recent buying.
Nick Scali hit by liquidation
Furniture retailer Nick Scali (ASX: NCK) overcame challenging news that one of its major freight forwarders had entered liquidation, with shares dropping 1.7 per cent. Lion Global Forwarding, which exports a significant amount of product out of China had seen exports delayed significantly following its financial challenges, which now means Nick Scali will struggle to reach its prior profit and sales guidance.
Cooling parts provider PWR Holdings (ASX: PWH), known for its car parts being used by Formula 1 racing teams, tanked by close to 25 per cent as the company flagged a material reduction in profit from $9.8 million to just $3.5 million for the current financial year. Management described the business as entering a ‘transition year’.
Shares in fund manager Pinnacle Investment Management (ASX: PNI) were in a trading halt as the company sought $400 million in new capital to fund the acquisition of minority shareholdings in two new fund managers, with a focus on private markets. The group is seeking to acquire part of PE firm VSS Capital Partners, and Pacific Asset Management in the UK.
S&P 500 struggles ahead of NVIDIA result
The S&P 500 struggled throughout the session ahead of NVIDIA’s (NASDAQ: NVDA) massive result that could trigger a change in direction. The S&P500 ended broadly flat, along with the Nasdaq, while the Dow Jones reversed a five-day losing streak.
Further pressure is coming from an escalation in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, which has supported the energy sector on concerns of hit to production. With little in the way of company specific news all eyes are on Donald Trump’s secretary selections which are expected to change the course of policy heavily during his term.