Local shares are poised to lift to end the week, boosted by renewed optimism on Wall St.

The SPI futures are poiting to a 48 gain on the open, at 5253.

Key numbers:

– SPI futures up 48pts at 5247

– AUD at 73.23 US cents, 87.10 Japanese yen, 64.41 Euro cents and 47.33 British pence

– On Wall St, S&P 500 +1.5%, Dow +1.3%, Nasdaq +1.8%

– In Europe, Stoxx 50 +1.5%, FTSE +1.1%, CAC +14%, DAX +1.5%

– Spot gold down $US1.53 or 0.1% to $US1182.60/ounce

– Brent crude down 44 US cents or 0.9% to $US48.71/barrel

– Iron ore drops 2.5% to $US53.74 per tonne

What’s on today:

Australia Financial Stability Review; Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda speaks at an event hosted by Japan’s National Credit Union Association: US capital flows, industrial production

Stocks in focus:

Woodside Petroleum CEO Peter Coleman is maintaining that his company’s $11.65 billion bid for Oil Search is “very competitive” in the face of speculation his company will make a higher offer. “We’re known for capital discipline,” Coleman told reporters in Vancouver on Thursday

Deutsche Bank retains a “buy” rating on Aristocrat Leisure with the stock trading at an 18 per cent discount to DB’s valuation of $11.00 a share.

The world’s largest producer of zircon, Iluka Resources, says it is still tracking within its full year guidance despite challenging global economic conditions impacting its key markets.

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