Company Interview / the open: ASX set for flat start after record highs

The Australian market is set for a slightly weaker start, after hitting fresh record highs yesterday. SPI futures are down 10 points. Overnight, Wall Street slipped for a fifth straight session as investors awaited Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech for guidance on potential September rate cuts. The Dow fell 0.3%, the S&P 500 shed 0.4% and the Nasdaq eased 0.3%. Weaker labour market data contrasted with stronger business activity readings, keeping uncertainty high. In Europe, markets were flat, though energy stocks gained on higher oil prices.Commodity moves were mixed. Brent crude rose 1.2% to US$67.67 a barrel, while Nymex lifted 1.3% to US$63.52, buoyed by signs of strong US demand and geopolitical tensions. Gold slipped 0.2% to US$3,381/oz as the US dollar firmed. Iron ore was steady near US$101.57/t.The Australian dollar eased to US64.20c. Earnings will be in focus today from Accent, GQG, Guzman y Gomez and Helia.