AU Morning Wrap: ASX Opens the Week Flat, Energy Stocks Rally

U.S. investors' appetite for risk has returned. The $S&P 500 Index (.SPX.US)$ rose 0.1% Friday, capping off a 2.2% gain for the week. The broad-based index, which booked a third straight weekly advance, has closed higher in 13 of the last 15 sessions. The $Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI.US)$ was little changed Friday, while the $Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC.US)$ was up 0.1%.

The $S&P/ASX 200 (.XJO.AU)$ is just 3 points higher at at 7050. The All Ordinaries is also largely unmoved.

$Karoon Energy Ltd (KAR.AU)$: has bounced 4.8 per cent to $2.15 after falling more than 12 per cent last week. The oil and gas producer recently completed a capital raise at $2.05 apiece to fund the purchase of assets in the Gulf of Mexico.

$Paladin Energy Ltd (PDN.AU)$: Paladin Energy is the best performing on the benchmark. The uranium explorer is 4.1 per cent higher at $1.01 as investor interest continues to swarm the sector.

$ASX Ltd (ASX.AU)$: The Australian Securities Exchange is 1.1 per cent higher at $57.74. The market operator has hired TATA Consultancy to design the replacement for its CHESS share settlement system.

$Brambles Ltd (BXB.AU)$: Brambles has appointed Xavier Garijo to a new role as the head of its Americas’ pallet business, as the current president of the logistics giant's CHEP North America subsidiary steps down. Shares are down 1.1 per cent to $13.02.

Trading Ex-div: $Tamawood Ltd (TWD.AU)$, $SILK Laser Australia Ltd (SLA.AU)$