Copper and aluminium prices were near their lowest since April on Tuesday, while Shanghai rebar steel futures slipped to a near-four week low.

The local share price index futures fell 0.26 percent or 16 points to 6136, a 61.6-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark fell 0.2 percent on Tuesday.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index was down about 0.2 percent at 2217 GMT.