SYDNEY, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set for a lacklustre start on Wednesday with a negative finish on Wall Street and a mixed performance in commodity prices likely to weigh on investors already fretting about slower Chinese growth.
Stock index futures YAPcm1 eased 0.3 percent to 5,199.0, a 36.6-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO . The benchmark ended 0.7 percent lower on Tuesday.
Ahead of the opening bell, BHP Billiton (L:BLT) BHP.AX announced its operational review for the third quarter, maintaining production guidance across all its businesses. ID:nWNBS01HP1
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index .NZ50 edged up 0.2 percent, or 10.6 points, to 5,906.1 in early trade, reaching fresh two-month highs.
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