S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) (ASX:XJO) steadily trended downward into the close from its intra-day high at 12.49pm of 6,083 points.
4.10pm: ASX closes up 0.2%
The ASX 200 closed up 14.7 points or 0.2% to 6,056.9.
The Healthcare (+0.79%) and Financial (+0.41%) sectors led the gains today, while Telcos were the worst performing, down 0.89%.
[VIDEO] Market Close 27 Feb 18: Aussie shares rose for a fifth day and hit fresh three week highs on Tuesday despite fading from intraday highs. The ASX 200 rose by 0.25% to 6056 https://t.co/9Gkal7LQeo #ausbiz
— CommSec (@CommSec) February 27, 2018
12.00pm: ASX 200 up 0.6%
The ASX 200 is up 34.3 points or 0.6% to 6,076.5.
Fuel refiner, Caltex (ASX:CTX), found support on the market today after reporting its December half results, trading up 4.3%.
Satellite and remote communications company, Speedcast (ASX:SDA), however, has failed to appease investors with its results today, trading down 6%.
[VIDEO] Mid-Session 27 Feb 18: The ASX 200 is on track for a 5th consecutive day of gains on Tuesday. Only 2 sectors lower at lunch - Telecoms and Utilities, while solid gains for the banks are underpinning the broader improvement https://t.co/nZqV6qLxgG #ausbiz
— CommSec (@CommSec) February 27, 2018
10.19am: ASX 200 up 0.6%
The ASX 200 is up 36 points or 0.6% to 6,078.2.
Pre-market wrap: S&P/ASX 200 set for another up day as futures run higher
S&P/ASX 200 will look to continue its positive run with ASX 200 futures trading higher, signalling early gains for the ASX 200.
The Dow Jones (INDEXDJX:DJI) finished its Monday up 399 points or up 1.58% to 25,709.
VIDEO: US Close 27 Feb 18: Near 400pts gain on the Dow ahead of Powell#ausbizhttps://t.co/9iex7DsGGz
— CommSec (@CommSec) February 26, 2018
The AUDUSD is up 0.22% over the past 24 hours to 0.7855.
Gold was higher, up US$4.70 to US$1,335 and WTI Crude Oil continued higher again, up 0.74%, to US$64.03 per barrel.
AGI, CAB, CTX, and SDA report results today
Companies of note reporting results today include:
• Ainsworth Game Technology Limited (ASX:AGI);
• Cabcharge Australia Limited (ASX:CAB);
• Caltex Australia Limited (ASX:CTX); and
• Speedcast International Ltd (ASX:SDA).
Upcoming economic data: No data today but US data tonight
Again there is no significant economic data set to be released in Australia today but eyes will be on the US tonight.
Just after midnight at 12:30am AEST the monthly US core durable goods orders data will be released.
It measures the change in the total value of new purchase orders placed with manufacturers for durable goods, excluding transportation items.
It's a leading indicator of production and rising purchase orders signal that manufacturers will increase activity as they work to fill the orders.
The consensus forecast is 0.4%.