By Cecile Lefort
SYDNEY, July 23 (Reuters) - Australian shares are seen opening lower on Thursday, tracking a decline on Wall Street following disappointing earnings from the technology sector.
Sliding prices for iron ore, Australia's top export earner, and gold are seen as likely to pressure natural resources stocks.
Local share price index futures YAPcm1 dipped 2 points overnight, to sit at a 64.6-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index's .AXJO close on Wednesday. The benchmark dropped 1.6 percent in the previous session as investors took profits after six straight sessions of gains.
Mining companies, including Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX , Newcrest Mining NCM.AX and BC Iron BCI.AX , are expected to release production reports.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index .NZ50 opened slightly softer in early trade to trade 0.2 percent lower at 5,917.2 points following a sharp rally in the kiwi dollar.
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For a summary of overnight action across global markets,
click on AU/CALL
For a digest of the day's business stories in Australian
newspapers, click on PRESS/AUB ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>