Australian shares are expected to edge up on Thursday, tracking gains on Wall Street, supported by strong commodity and oil prices.
Gold rose to a three-month peak on Wednesday, while copper prices rose after the world's top two mines said strikes and permit delays would force them to cut output. GOL/ prices rose slightly as investors covered short positions after a rise in U.S. crude inventories was not as massive as many had expected. O/R
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 was flat or 1 point lower, at 5597, a 54.4 point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close.
The benchmark closed 0.52 percent higher in the previous sesion.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 was flat, at 7068.39 at 2108 GMT.
For a summary of overnight action across global markets, double click on AU/CALL
For a digest of the day's business stories in Australian newspapers, double click on PRESS/AUB