ASX to open flat; traders eye JB Hi-Fi and Origin results

News Snapshot:

So far, results have been better than expected as a handful of consumer-facing stocks, such as Nick Scali, exceeded expectations. Sydney-based fund manager Vertium Asset Management agreed results from the beginning of the February reporting season had performed a “bit better” than market expectations and some traders were forced into a radical reversal of their gloomy predictions for discretionary retail. “When looking at the beats versus misses, it looks like there has been more of the former,” chief investment officer Jason Teh said. JB Hi-Fi is an “interesting” stock to watch, he said because the company’s current valuation did not...