ASX Market Open: First advance to come for W50 despite RBA halting relief cycle | Dec 10

Market Overview - Australian shares are set for their first advance of Week 50, despite the Reserve Bank halting its rate relief cycle and warnings against expecting rate cuts soon [1] - ASX 200 futures indicate a +0.25% rise, while Wall Street has also shown positive movement, although traders remain divided ahead of the Fed's rate decision [2] Economic Indicators - Jerome Powell's potential rate cut in the U.S. is contributing to a more dovish market sentiment, with the S&P 500 approaching all-time highs from October [3] - The ASX is on track to reach three million fund investors by next year, with an additional 411,000 entering the ETF space this year [4] Company News - South32 is considering acquiring the West Musgrave mine from BHP Group, which is divesting most of its nickel assets; Sandfire Resources may also be interested [5] - KKR has reportedly been exploring the option to take Pepper Money private, but a spike in Pepper's value has complicated those plans [5] - Trigg Minerals has received permitting to drill at Antimony Canyon and will begin staging contractors at the site [6] - Wildcat Resources has intercepted mineralization at its Bolt Cutter Central lithium discovery [6] - Tempest is in the process of acquiring the Remorse iron deposit [6] Commodity Prices - The Australian dollar is trading at 66.4 U.S. cents [7] - Iron Ore has decreased by -0.2% to $101.85 per tonne, Brent Crude is down -0.8% to $61.98 per barrel, Gold is priced at $4,215 per ounce, and U.S. natural gas futures have dropped -7% to $4.57 per gigajoule [7]