All indicators point to gains on the Australian sharemarket going into the last big week of the earnings season.
European and US markets finished the week higher and the Canadian market, which shares many similarities with the Australian market, increased 0.7 per cent.
Base metal prices were also modestly higher.
"Overall I think it's going to be a pretty reasonable start," CommSec chief economist Craig James said.
The futures market was pointing to a gain of 22 points at the open on Monday, he said.
Economists weren't expecting much in terms of earnings guidance from companies because of uncertainty about the outcome of the September 7 federal election.
"Once that uncertainty gets out of the road then companies will have greater ability to be able to set their employment and spending plans for the next couple of months," Mr James said.
The main pieces of economic data for the week will come when the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) releases construction data on Wednesday and June quarter capital expenditure figures on Thursday.
"They're really important because they're pieces of the economic puzzle that plug into determining how fast the economy is growing, so they're going to be closely watched," Mr James said.
The Housing Industry Association's new home sales data on Thursday and private sector credit on Friday add to the spattering of figures that will keep investors interested.
Mr James said the Aussie dollar remained comfortable around 90 US cents after recovering from a big day of fluctuations on Thursday.
"I think it's going to continue to track sideways until we get some greater certainty out of the US about the winding back of their stimulus," he said.
