Oct 7 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set for a sluggish start on Friday as investors await U.S. job market data due later in the day that could give a hint on the odds of a year-end Federal Reserve rate hike.
Strong U.S. jobs numbers might cement expectations of a Fed rate increase later this year and ripple through markets. Economists polled by Reuters forecast nonfarm payrolls to increase by 175,000. ECONUS
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 rose 0.3 percent to 5,481, a 2.0-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark perked up 30.07 points, or 0.6 percent, to 5,483 at the close of trade.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 slipped for a fourth straight session, down 0.14 percent or 10-points, to 7,187 in early trade.
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