MELBOURNE, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set to open lower on Friday, with investors wary ahead of the onslaught of half-year results, however mining stocks are poised for a second day of strong gains on higher iron ore, copper and gold prices.
Pointing to a weaker start, local share price index futures YAPcm1 fell 0.3 percent to sit at a 61.4-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark rose 1.9 percent on Thursday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 slipped 3.2 points to 6,140.91 in early trade.
Top miners BHP Billiton (L:BLT) BHP.AX and Rio Tinto (L:RIO) RIO.AX rocketed more than 10 percent in London overnight and are poised to open more than 3 percent higher on the Australian market.
Whitehaven Coal WHC.AX is due to report its half-year results on Friday, with it expected to deliver earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation between A$100 million and A$105 million.
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