The Australian market looks set to open slightly lower later this morning after European bourses moved sharply higher overnight, while Wall Street stocks fluctuated ahead of the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting.

The December SPI futures contract is down 8 points, at 5142.

In local economic news today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases international merchandise imports for November, the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Indexes of Economic Activity is due out, as is the HIA trades report for September quarter.

In equities news, Ten Network Holdings has its annual general meeting in Sydney while, in Melbourne, Boart Longyear has an extraordinary general meeting for shareholders to vote on a recapitalisation program.

And, LatAm Autos and oOh! Media list on share market.

Key numbers:

• SPI down 8 points at 5142
• AUD at 82.16 US cents
• Dow Jones +0.45%, S&P500 +0.40%, Nasdaq -0.05%
• FTSE100 +2.41%, CAC +2.19%, DAX +2.46%
• Gold at $US1992.69 an ounce
• Brent oil down $US1.31 at $US59.75 per barrel
• Iron ore down 48 US cents at $US68.58

What's on today:

Australia Westpac leading index; US consumer prices, Federal Reserve meeting, current account balance; Japan exports, trade balance, imports.

Stocks to watch:

Deutsche Bank has retained a "hold" recommendation on Leighton Holdings and a price target of $19.40 a share after it announced an agreement to sell its John Holland business.

Hartleys Research has initiated coverage on CUE Energy Resources with a 'speculative buy' and a 12-month price target of 14¢ a share on the oil and gas developer.

Ord Minnett and Shaw Stockbroking have been appointed to explore an initial public offering for software development company Readify, the Australian Financial Review reports. The deal will kick off in early 2015 with the raise said to be about $30 million.

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