Aug 23 (Reuters) - Australian shares are likely to open lower on Friday as investors await U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech for signals on the central bank's monetary policy.
Two Federal Reserve officials on Thursday said they see no need for an interest rate cut next month, while another said he was "open-minded," highlighting policymakers' divisions over how to respond to signs of a global economic slowdown. local share price index futures YAPcm1 fell 0.2%, a 54.8-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark rose 0.3% on Thursday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.03% to 10,728.55 in early trade.