Local Markets Commentary
The Australian market opens today’s end-of-month trade ahead of influential data and reports out of China and Japan, and on mixed overnight international leads. 

China publishes official October PMIs midday AEDST.

The Bank of Japan is scheduled to announce outcomes from its policy meeting 1pm AEDST.

Japan also publishes most of the nation’s key economic data for September, including industrial production, detailed trade figures, household spending and employment figures, from 10.30am.

In overnight commodities trade, US gold futures rose. Oil continued higher. Iron ore (China port, 62% Fe) extended its latest decline to four consecutive sessions, falling below $US60/t. LME copper and nickel swung higher.

The $A rose above US76.85c after slipping to ~US76.65c early yesterday evening.

Locally today, September financial aggregates, including private sector credit are due 11.30am AEDST.

A weekly consumer sentiment reading is expected pre-trade and an HIA home sales report at 11am.

International reserves and forex liquidity updates will be published post-trade.

A plethora of September quarter reports can also be expected today.

HVN trades ex-dividend.

Overseas Market Commentary
Vacillating trade featured across major European and US equities markets overnight, at the outset of one of the busiest earnings reporting season weeks, and amid US political considerations and debate surrounding the likely timing, and hence impacts, of planned US tax changes. 

Among the first releases in a week of significant economic indicator and policy reports, an initial September CPI reading for Germany came in flat for the month and 1.6% higher year-on-year, following 0.1% growth in August and a 1.8% annual reading. 

September retail sales rose 0.5% following a 0.2% pullback during August. Year-on-year, sales improved 4.1%. 

A set of euro zone sentiment indices was largely estimated higher than previously and than forecast.

In the US, September personal income and spending rose 0.4% and 1% respectively. 

A Texas manufacturing index also pleased, rising 6.3 points to 27.6.

Meanwhile, details and names regarding the first charges arising from an investigation into Russian links with the 2016 US election were revealed. Two associates of president Donald Trump were named.

In Spain, the public prosecutor pushed for sedition and funds misuse charges against the recent government leaders for Catalonia.

Tonight in the US, the Federal Reserve commences a policy meeting from which outcomes will be announced early Thursday AEDST.

Among data releases, September quarter employment costs, a Chicago PMI, plus house price and consumer confidence indices are due tonight.

Companies scheduled to report earnings today and tonight include: Airbus, Archer Daniels Midland, BNP, BP, Kellogg, Kirin Holdings, Mastercard, Pfizer, Ryanair, Samsung and Sony. 

In overnight corporate news and moves, HSBC reported a $US4.6B September quarter pre-tax profit, $US3.8B higher than a year earlier, but $US0.7B lower than for the June quarter.

Glencore raised its full-year EBIT forecast following an encouraging quarter, despite production falls in key commodities including copper and nickel.

Merck dropped 6% after abandoning pursuit of an additional use for one of its drugs. This appeared to impact sentiment for major stocks across the sector. 

Novartis, however, revealed a plan to purchase French drug manufacturer Advanced Accelerator Applications for $US3.9B.

General Motors suffered from a Goldman Sachs sell recommendation, its stock falling almost 3%.

Apple appreciated 2.2% from iPhone X demand indications.