White House releases whistleblower report: Aus shares to open higher

Overnight the White House released the redacted whistleblower report which is at the epicenter of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump. The document, which purportedly comes from a CIA official, expresses an "urgent concern" that President Trump is "using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 US election". US tech stocks are dragging on the market amongst concerns that the US is unlikely to extend a temporary waiver over Huawei’s blacklisting and the news that the US Justice Department are set to join the many regulatory agencies investigating Facebook for antitrust violations.

Despite weak leads from the US markets, the SPI futures are pointing to a 0.4 per cent gain. Yesterday, the Australian share market closed 33 points or 0.5 per cent lower at 6,678.

Markets

To the figures from around the globe: Wall Street closed lower yesterday: The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.3 per cent to close at 26,891, the S&P 500 closed 0.2 per cent lower at 2978 and the NASDAQ fell 0.6 per cent to 8031.

European markets closed higher: London’s FTSE added 0.8 per cent, Paris gained 0.7 per cent and Frankfurt was up 0.4 per cent.

Asian markets closed mixed: Tokyo’s Nikkei added 0.1 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.4 per cent and China’s Shanghai Composite lost 0.9 per cent.

Company news

Grain storage, logistics and marketing company, GrainCorp (ASX:GNC), has come across a speed bump in its proposed sale of its Australian Bulk Liquid Terminals assets to ANZ Terminals. The proposal was announced to the market back on 4 March 2019. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has delayed their decision in relation to the proposed sale by 2 weeks. It is now expected to occur on 31 October 2019.The proposed sale also remains subject to other conditions, including Foreign Investment Review Board approval. Shares in Graincorp (ASX:GNC) closed 0.25 per cent lower at $7.85 yesterday.

Investment company, Bailador Technology Investments (ASX:BTI) has written off its investment in one of its portfolio companies, Stackla. Stackla compiles user-generated content from social networking sites and integrates it as marketing touch points. In the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, as well as US state and federal antitrust investigations, Facebook has restricted a number of companies, including Stackla from interacting with the Facebook and Instagram platforms. Stackla filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to restore its access. Overnight, he US District Chief Judge denied the restraining order. Meantime, Bailador’s minority interest in Stackla which was valued at $12.6 million has been completely written off. Shares in Bailador Technology Investments (ASX:BTI) closed 0.5 per cent lower at $0.94 yesterday.

Currencies

One Australian Dollar at 7:40 AM was buying 67.49 US cents, 54.78 Pence Sterling, 72.77 Yen and 61.82 Euro cents.

Commodities

Iron Ore has added 0.6 per cent to US$90.91.
Iron Ore futures suggest a 0.79 per cent gain.
Gold has dropped $0.60 to US$1,512 an ounce.
Silver has lost $0.20 to US$17.88 an ounce.
AND Oil has added $0.05 to US$56.54 a barrel.

Ex-dividend

APN Industria REIT (ASX:ADI) is paying 4.375 cents unfranked
Aims Property Securities Fund (ASX:APW) is paying 0.535 cents unfranked
APN Convenience Retail REIT (ASX:AQR) is paying 5.45 cents unfranked
Arena REIT No 1 (ASX:ARF) is paying 3.575 cents unfranked
Aventus Group (ASX:AVN) is paying 4.22 cents unfranked
Australian Enhanced Income Fund (ASX:AYF) is paying 8 cents 51.27 per cent franked
BSA Limited (ASX:BSA) is paying 0.5 cents fully franked
Centuria Industrial Reit (ASX:CIP) is paying 4.675 cents unfranked
Concentrated Leaders Fund Ltd (ASX:CLF) is paying 1.5 cents fully franked
Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX:CLW) is paying 7 cents unfranked
Centuria Metropolitan REIT (ASX:CMA) is paying 4.45 cents unfranked
Cromwell Group (ASX:CMW) is paying 1.875 cents unfranked
Charter Hall Education Trust (ASX:CQE) is paying 4.175 cents unfranked
Gryphon Capital Income Trust (ASX:GCI) is paying 0.76 cents unfranked
Garda Capital Group Stapled Securities (ASX:GCM) is paying 1.25 cents unfranked
Kirkland Lake Gold (ASX:KLA) is paying 5.015 cents unfranked
Kathmandu Hold Ltd (ASX:KMD) is paying 11.0988 cents fully franked
Meridian Energy Ltd (ASX:MEZ) is paying 11.88 cents unfranked
Perpetual Credit Income Trust (ASX:PCI) is paying 0.386 cents unfranked
Redcape Hotel Group Pty Ltd (ASX:RDC) is paying 2.1995 cents unfranked
Rural Funds Group (ASX:RFF) is paying 2.7118 cents unfranked
360 Capital Group Ltd (ASX:TGP) is paying 1 cents unfranked
60 Capital Group Ltd (ASX:TOT) is paying 2.25 cents unfranked