July 28 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set for a quiet start on Friday, as positive sentiment from firm oil prices may be offset by falling U.S. stocks and sliding iron ore prices.
Oil prices climbed to an eight-week high on Thursday, after a rally in U.S. gasoline futures, while U.S. stocks retreated due to poor performance from tech and transportation shares. .N O/R
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 fell 0.03 percent to 5718, a 67.01 point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close.
The benchmark rose 0.15 percent higher on Thursday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.1 percent in early trade.