The Australian market opensmid-week trade on negative overnight international equities leads, but pricesgains for select key commodities, ahead of influential figures out of China.China’s February industrial production, fixed asset investment and retail salesfigures are expected 1 pm AEDST. Bank of Japan policy meeting minutes areexpected 10.50 am. Locally today, a Westpac -Melbourne Institute monthly consumersentiment report and Australian Bureau of Statistics January lending figuresare due. ASB, CSL, RCR, SIQ and SSM are among several large-cap stocks tradingex-dividend.

Overseas Markets Commentary

USequities markets opened higher overnight but soon headed lower, dragging majorEuropean equities indices with them. Reports emerged the US administration wasconsidering up to $US60B worth of new tariffs on goods imported from China.Earlier, it was revealed the US president had dismissed the US secretary ofstate late last week, and that he would be replaced by the CIA director. Thiswas reported to risk the 2015 international agreement to lift sanctions againstIran in association with nuclear activity compliance.