Oct 3 (Reuters) - Australian shares are expected to decline on Thursday, as weaker than expected U.S. payroll data piled on to lingering global recession worries, while a drop in oil prices may hurt local energy firms.
Global equities continued their slide after a report showed U.S. private employers hired fewer workers in September, as the labour market came under pressure amid Washington's longstanding tariff dispute with Beijing. Aussie share price index futures YAPcm1 fell 1.8%, a 145.9-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark fell 1.5% to a three-week low on Wednesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.7% in early trade.