Australia shares set to open marginally lower; NZ steady

SYDNEY: Australian shares are poised to open marginally lower on Friday taking cues from Wall Street which saw a fall in healthcare and utility stocks.

The local share price index futures fell 0.1 percent or 8 points to 5,777, a 8.8-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark rose 0.2 percent on Thursday.

However, the gains in commodities is expected to push materials stocks up which might help stem the losses in the Australian benchmark index New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.1 percent at 7,159.25 in early trade. Gains in materials stocks helped the benchmark index to extend gains into a second session of trading.