SYDNEY: Australian shares are set to open under pressure on Monday, with commodities prices dipping as investors digested comments from Federal Reserve officials on the central bank's stimulus program while awaiting a private survey of China's services industry.
Local share price index futures rose 0.4 percent to 5,335, which is still a 15.1-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark slipped 0.3 percent on Friday.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index was nearly flat, adding 0.8 point to 4,769.8 in early trade.
US stocks ended a volatile session mostly flat on Friday as investors digested comments from Federal Reserve officials that raised questions about how quickly the central bank will end its stimulus program.
Copper dipped on Friday, easing from a seven-month high as expectations of higher supplies and concerns over Chinese growth weighed on the market.
Gold rose 1 percent on Friday, rallying for a second consecutive day with a boost from renewed fund buying and equities' weakness after bullion posted its worst annual decline in 2013 in more than 30 years.
A private PMI survey of China's services industry will be released on Monday.
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