Australian shares are poised to rise on Friday, tracking gains on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average index reached another record high.
Overnight, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.8%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.1%, to set another record, reaching a fourth straight week of gains. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 was flat. The US nonfarm payrolls report showed the economy added 57,000 jobs in June, below the estimates for a rise of 110,000.
In the macroeconomy, Australia's seasonally adjusted S&P Global Services purchasing managers' index (PMI) business activity index rose to 50.5 in June from 48.7 in May, signaling a marginal increase in business activity following a contraction in the previous month, according to a report by S&P Global.
In corporate news, BHP Group (ASX:BHP) struck a definitive deal to sell its San Manuel property in Arizona, US, to Faraday Copper in return for a 30% stake in Faraday at closing on a fully diluted basis. BHP is expected to hold 138 million Faraday common shares after the deal's closing, representing a 32.5% stake on a non-diluted basis, including shares it acquired through a private placement in March.
Suncorp Group (ASX:SUN) placed its main catastrophe program for the fiscal year 2027, which maintains the maximum event retention of AU$350 million for a first and second large event, covering the home, motor, and commercial property portfolios across Australia and New Zealand. The firm's total reinsurance costs in fiscal year 2027 are expected to be higher than in fiscal year 2026.
Genesis Minerals (ASX:GMD) reported gold production of 70,767 ounces for the June quarter, bringing fiscal 2026 production to 285,400 ounces. The company said both production and all-in sustaining costs are within its fiscal year guidance range of 260,000 to 290,000 ounces at AU$2,500 to AU$2,700 per ounce.
Australia's benchmark index edged up 0.02% or 1.6 points to close at 8,724.50 on Thursday.