Australia shares may edge down, focus on earnings
Australian shares are seen opening with a softer tone on Tuesday on a fall in metals prices, but sentiment remains supportive after a three-month rally that has taken the market to 4-1/2 year highs.
* Share price index futures slipped 0.1 percent to 5038.0, a 25.4-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index. The benchmark rose 0.6 percent on Monday to its highest close since September 2008.
* New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index rose O.2 percent to 4,224.4 in early trade.
* US financial markets were closed on Monday for a public holiday.
* Copper prices dipped to a near three-week low on Monday as signs of weak global growth dampened the demand outlook for industrial metals, with the focus on buying interest from top consumer China after the week-long Lunar New Year holidays.
* Ports and rail operator Asciano Ltd reported a first-half profit after tax of $199.9 million and expected full-year capital expenditure would be in the $700-$800 range projected in its FY 2012 final result.
* Telecom New Zealand said it, Vodafone and Australia's Telstra will build a $60 million trans-Tasman submarine cable.
* The chief executive, chairman and independent directors of Australia's APN News & Media resigned on Monday after major shareholder Independent News & Media said it had lost confidence in management and scuppered a planned capital raising. APN shares were on a trading halt on Monday after closing at A$0.30. The stock has crashed from a high of A$6.16 in 2007.
* Wall St closed on
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