March 13 (Reuters) - Australian shares were set to decline on Wednesday as an extended fall in financial stocks could weigh on sentiment.
Financial stocks .AXFJ staged a reversal to fall 0.4 percent late in Tuesday's session after the federal government said it would no longer seek to abolish hidden commission payments to home loan brokers by banks, reversing a key recommendation from an inquiry into the sector and potentially placing banks in the political spotlight. commodity stocks could help brace against weakness, boosted by underlying strength in base metal and oil prices. MET/L O/R
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 were 0.1 percent, or 9 points lower to 6,164, a 10.8-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark ended 0.1 percent lower on Tuesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 was unchanged in early trade.