Market highlights and 5 ASX small caps to watch today

Overseas Markets Highlights

US markets were down overnight, with the Dow Jones pulling back by 0.35%, the S&P 500 down 0.45%, and the Nasdaq down 0.7%. The market was dragged down as US jobless jumped above 800k again, a four-week high. Walmart was down 5% as earnings came in below market.

Oil prices have pulled back, with spot Brent down 0.7 per cent to US$ 63.65 a barrel. According to Bloomberg, the April-21 Brent futures is down by 1.45% as traders take profits.

Spot iron ore surged overnight by 4.9% to US$ 175.05/t as China returns from new year break.
 

Bitcoin still above US$52,000

Not much happening in the cryptocoin market as Bitcoin is still hovering above the US$52k levels. The AFR reports that Bitcoin is now more than a sideshow, with corporate America taking a good a look at it as a viable investment.
 

Closer to home

ASX shares are poised to open slightly lower, with ASX futures pointing lower by 0.11% at 8:22am AEDT.

Goodman (ASX:GMG) profit up 29 per cent.

Cleanway (ASX:CWY) scores records profit of $79.4 million.

QBE Insurance (ASX:QBE) reports full year net loss of $1.5 billion, swinging from a $550 million profit a year earlier.

Sydney Airport (ASX:SYD) passengers down 92 per cent in January.
 

5 small caps to watch on the ASX this morning

SelfWealth (ASX:SWF)
Financial play Selfwealth recorded a loss before tax of $0.43 million for the half ending December 2020, bettering a loss of $1.45 million on previous corresponding period (pcp).

E&P FInancial (ASX:EP1)
E&P reported statutory NPAT of $4.5 million, up 114% on pcp. Dividend has been reinstated, with 2 cents per share to be paid on 15 April 2021.

CannPal Animal Therapeutics (ASX:CP1)

The animal health stock recorded a net loss before tax of $0.27 million for the half year, improving from a net loss before tax of $0.51 million on pcp.

Other notable small caps to report earnings later today:

Mayne Pharma (ASX:MYX)

Senex Energy (ASX:SXY)