SYDNEY, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Australian shares are likely to have a cautious start on Monday, following cues from Wall Street which ended flat in the last session.
Miners and energy-related stocks should prop up the index with commodities showing more signs of stabilisation following a turbulent week.
Local share price index futures YAPcm1 rose 0.2 percent to 5,246, a 17.6-point discount to the close of the underlying S&P/ASX200 index .AXJO on Friday. The benchmark was on track for a 7.6 percent loss this month and if sustained, it would be the largest since 2010.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index .NZ50 opened steady in early trade at 5,670.390.