AU Morning Wrap: Australia Shares Shaping for Higher Open

The $Dow Jones Industrial Average(.DJI.US)$ shed 11.24 points (0.03%) to end at 38,892.8, while the $S&P 500 Index(.SPX.US)$ gave up 1.95 ticks (0.04%) to a 5,202.39 finish. However, the $Nasdaq Composite Index(.IXIC.US)$ added 5.43 points (0.03%) to 16,253.95.

Australian shares are poised for a positive start despite the unclear direction from US equities. At 8:30 am AEST, $S&P/ASX 200(.XJO.AU)$ futures were up 0.45%, trading 36 points higher, indicating that the S&P/ASX 200 index will extend its 0.2% gain from Monday.

$Ansell Ltd(ANN.AU)$ , a medical glove manufacturer, is set to resume trading after raising $400 million through a fully underwritten placement priced at $22.45 per share, which represents a 6% discount to Friday's closing price of $23.89. The company will use the funds to acquire the personal protective equipment business of Kimberly-Clark Corporation in the US.

$Synlait Milk Ltd(SM1.AU)$, a company based in New Zealand, has appointed Charles Fergusson as its acting chief financial officer. Fergusson will continue to serve in his current positions in OnFarm Excellence, Business Sustainability, and Corporate Affairs.

Bunnings has criticized a proposal by $Woolworths Group Ltd(WOW.AU)$ to expand the code governing supplier relationships to cover Amazon, Costco, and Chemist Warehouse, arguing that such a move would not reduce prices and would impose a one-size-fits-all approach on unrelated business operations.