The Australian market looks set to open stronger later this morning, after Wall Street gained on Friday night with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both reaching new record highs.

The June SPI futures contract is up 24 points, at 5962.

No major local economic news is expected on Monday.

In equities news, the Legg Mason Global Investment Survey on investments is slated for release while Airbus Pacific gives a market forecast and Atlas Iron posts March quarter production results.

What you need2know

* SPI futures up 24pts to 5962 on Saturday morning

* AUD at 78.24 US cents, 92.98 Japanese yen, 72.02 Euro cents and 51.57 British pence.

* On Wall St, S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow +0.1%, Nasdaq +0.7%

* Record closing highs for both S&P 500, Nasdaq on Friday

* In Europe, Stoxx 50 +0.4%, FTSE +0.2%, CAC +0.4%, DAX +0.7%

* Iron ore up 5.5% to $US57.81 per dry metric ton on Friday

* LME copper up 1.5% at $US60.30 a tonne on Friday

* LME nickel up 3.9% to $US13,195 a tonne on Friday

* Spot gold down $US14.97, or 1.3% to $US1179.00 an ounce on Friday

* Brent crude up 43 US cents, or 0.7% to $US65.28 a barrel on Friday

What’s on today:

Germany import prices; US flash services PMI

Stocks to watch:

Mining companies. In London on Friday, Rio Tinto +1.5%, BHP Billiton +2.1%

In Deutsche Bank’s updated model portfolio: Flight Centre has been added in place of JB Hi-Fi, and REA Group replaces Bluescope Steel.

Citi Research has a “buy” on cleaning and catering contractor Spotless Group and a $2.40 a share price target after an unexpected announcement from SPO’s CEO, Bruce Dixon, to retire on 31 December 2015.

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