Australian shares are expected to open slightly higher today, following a modest rise in United States markets.
Wall Street swung between gains and losses, as optimism about the latest round of US-China trade talks in Beijing was clouded somewhat by concerns about a worse-than-expected economic slowdown.
In a bid to end its protracted trade war with Washington, Beijing has made proposals on a range of issues that go further than it has before, including on forced technology transfers, according to US officials interviewed by Reuters.
However, America's annual GDP growth was revised downwards — from 2.6 to 2.2 per cent in the final quarter of 2018 — according to the latest figures from the US Department of Commerce.
These results are well below target, as the US is aiming to grow its economy by 3 per cent each year.
The Dow Jones index closed 92 points higher, up 0.4 per cent, to 25,717.
The benchmark S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq indices rose 0.4 and 0.3 per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, the Australia dollar is slightly weaker at 70.75 US cents at 8:05am (AEDT).
The dollar has, however, jumped 0.9 per cent to 54.21 British pence, as the UK Parliament struggles for direction on how to achieve Brexit.
Spot gold has tumbled 1.6 per cent to $1,295.50 an ounce as investors' risk appetite for stocks recover.
More to come.
