Aust stocks rise slightly at open

The Australian stock market looks was unchanged, ahead of the release of the local consumer price index for June and the HSBC flash PMI data out of China.

The RBA will be closely watching the CPI print, which could have a bearing on its easing bias.

The flat open comes after S&P 500 broke a four-day winning streak overnight.

At the 1015 AEST official market open, the S&P/ASX200 index rose 0.23% to at 5,028.4 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index added 0.23% to 5,016.3 points.

It comes after the benchmark finished a second straight session over the key 5,000 threshold.

IG market analyst Evan Lucas said currency movements would lead markets across the region today. 

"Commodities continue to drive momentum with gold plays the ones to watch with the precious metal back in sight of $1350 an ounce," Mr Lucas said.

Traders would also be watching the 11.30 am AEST CPI figure with intent.

"The figure that the RBA will be watching very closely is the CPI trimmed mean year-on-year which filters out these seasonal issues and is their preferred measure of inflation. The call for the trimmed mean CPI figure is 2.1%," Mr Lucas said.

The NAB is hosting a National Small Business Summit Brisbane.

Origin Energy managing director Grant King, Santos chief executive David Knox, EnergyAustralia MD Richard McIndoe, and BG Group Australia chairman Catherine Tanna are slated to participate in an AFR energy forum in Sydney.

Meanwhile, Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury and opposition finance spokesman Mathias Cormann are due to debate tax issues at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney.

In Australia, the market on Tuesday, closed higher, helped by soaring gold and commodity prices.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 15.2 points, or 0.30%, at 5,017.1 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 15.7 points, or 0.31%, to 5,004.6 points.