March 18 (Reuters) - Australian shares are likely to open lower on Thursday, ahead of important domestic employment data due out later in the day and as weaker oil prices will likely weigh on energy stocks.
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 fell 0.2%, an 18.2-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark fell 0.5% on Wednesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 was flat in early trade.