In local economic news today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases October housing finance data, while the Westpac/Melbourne Institute Survey of Consumer Sentiment is due out.

In equities news, Godfreys Group is scheduled to list on the ASX.

Key numbers:

– SPI futures down 14 pts at 5270

– AUD at 83.08 US cents

– Late on Wall St, S&P 500 -0.2%, Dow -0.5, Nasdaq +0.3%

– In Europe, Euro Stoxx 50 -2.6%, FTSE -2.1%, CAC -2.6%, DAX -2.2%

– pot gold up $US26.83 to $US1230.34 an ounce

– Brent oil up 18 US cents to $US66.37 per barrel

What's on today:

December consumer sentiment, US October wholesale inventories, Japan fourth-quarter business survey index.

Stocks to watch:

Energy companies and iron ore producers. Rio Tinto slid 1.2 per cent in London; BHP Billiton fell 1.6 per cent.

APA Group's shareholders were bracing for the year's second-largest equity raising on Tuesday night, in an effort to fund a $5.5 billion acquisition in Queensland.

Shaw Stockbroking has re-initiated coverage of Nick Scali with a "buy" recommendation and a 12-month price target of $3.20 a share.