Positive leads for local shares

AAPThe West Australian The Australian market has received positive leads from offshore trading overnight, with most key equities markets higher. Precious and base metals and oil also were

stronger. On the ASX24 at 4.24am, the December share price index futures contract was 18 points lower at 4701 points. In economics news on Tuesday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics

releases its annual report, and National Australia Bank issues its business survey for the September quarter. In equities news, Commonwealth Bank of Australia holds its annual general

meeting, as a precursor to banks' earnings season. The other three of the big four banks are due to report annual results during the week. Takeover target Perpetual also holds its

annual general meeting, as do Worley Parsons, Prime Financial Group, Transurban Group, Foster's Group, NIB Holdings, and Billabong International. On Monday, the Australian share market

closed higher, led by financial and resource stocks, as the merger announcement between the Australian and Singapore stock exchanges boosted sentiment. The benchmark S&P-ASX 200 index

finished up 61.8 points, or 1.33 per cent, at 4710.0 points, while the broader all-ordinaries index was 61.0 points higher, or 1.29 per cent, at 4780.6 points. GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM

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