March 19 (Reuters) - Australian shares were set to open lower on Friday after U.S. Treasury yields rose to 14-month highs overnight and as weak commodity prices will likely weigh on resource stocks.
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 fell 0.6%, a 76.9-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark fell 0.7% on Thursday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.2% in early trade.