SYDNEY: Australian shares are poised for a firm start on Friday tracking positive sentiment on Wall Street on stronger-than-expected earnings and a large drop in weekly jobless claims. Major mining stocks could lend support to the market on strong metals prices.
BHP's shares are poised to open 2 percent higher, based on trading in BHP ADRs on Wall Street.
Stock index futures rose to 5,127, a 12 point rise. The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 86.2 points to finish at 5,102.4, on Wednesday. There was no trade on Thursday 25th the for ANZAC day public holiday in Australia and New Zealand.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rose 4.68 points to 4,542.66 in early trade.
US stocks rose on Thursday, lifted by stronger-than-expected earnings and a large drop in weeky jobless claims. Amazon reported solid first-quarter profits after the closing bell. Its shares fell 3.9 percent to $264 in after-hours trading, more than offsetting the 2.2 percent gain in the regular session when the stock closed at $274.70..
Copper rose to a one-week high on Thursday, the second day of gains, on signs of industry restocking in top consumer China and hopes for more central bank easing after weak economic data in Europe.
Gold surged 2.5 percent on Thursday, its biggest daily rise since June, as physical buyers kept scooping up the metal at prices viewed as a bargain after bullion hit a two-year low on April 15.
Oil prices rose as much as $2 on Thursday as new reports over Syria's possible use of chemical weapons stirred concerns over stability in the Gulf region, while a wider rally in commodity and equity markets fuelled buying.
<Center><b><i>Copyright Reuters, 2013</b></i><br></center>
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