Australian shares are being tipped to open lower to open Week 8, with everyone Down Under holding their breath before the Reserve Bank’s first interest rate decision of the year – a pause that’s led ASX 200 futures 0.7% lower.

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The U.S. too has stalled somewhat heading up to the year’s eighth week, though Wall Street’s dip came after soft economic data actually suggested more cuts.

So far we’ve had four weeks of “Trump trade” and three weeks without the S&P 500 resetting its highs; maybe enough to show investors are skittish.

Before the weekend, the S&P 500 closed mostly flat on another day of stilted trade.

England may also hold some guidance for the RBA when its meeting starts today, with the Bank of England keeping a close eye on the U.K.’s returning inflation issues.

For us, circle tomorrow afternoon; the RBA will announce its February decision at 2.30pm Sydney time. Markets may (mostly) hold fire right up to that release.

Also back home, reporting season rolls on with aplomb. Westpac (ASX:WBC) today heralded a 9% decline in profits, to $1.7 billion, while a2 Milk (ASX:A2M) upgraded its full-year guidance after half-revenue rose another 10%.

Another week, another Star Entertainment (ASX:SGR) update too – this time, Oaktree is looking to buy out the Star’s lenders; the last roadblock to voluntary administration.

Bad news for BlueScope (ASX:BSL) too, with the steelmaker seeing a 59% profit drop.

Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has also updated its shareholders regarding its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia: The multibillion-dollar expansion is “running to budget and schedule,” the mining giant said, even as crisis meetings are underway.

Also in mining, Port Hedland re-opened Saturday after dodging Tropical Cyclone Zelia.

Looking at forex, the Aussie dollar is up to start the week, buying 63.5 US cents.

To commodities, which are in the greenback,

Iron Ore has dipped 0.29% to $106.15 a tonne in Singapore,

Brent Crude is trading at $74.74,

Gold is trading at $2,910 per ounce, and, 

US natgas futures are at $3.72 per gigajoule.

That’s Market Open, I’m Isaac McIntyre, stick with us for HotCopper’s Market Update.