Oct 27 (Reuters) - Australian shares are expected to edge higher on Thursday as miners could gain on higher iron ore and coal prices, while the spotlight would be on National Australia Bank's NAB.AX earnings, one among the 'big four' in Australia.
NAB, Australia's fourth-largest bank by market value, reported a 4 percent rise in annual cash profit and maintained its final dividend after streamlining its portfolio by selling assets in Britain and the United States. share price index futures YAPcm1 was up 0.2 percent, a 19.8-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark finished 1.53 percent lower on Wednesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.18 percent, or 12.33 points to 6896.2 in early trade.
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