Australian market set to open lower

THE Australian market looks set to open lower after Wall Street stocks fell on the back of some disappointing US retail spending figures.

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening of the markets in New York October 14, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

THE Australian market looks set to open lower after Wall Street stocks fell on the back of some disappointing US retail spending figures.

At 0656 AEDT on Thursday, the December share price index futures contract was down three points at 5,171.

The Dow Jones index was down almost one per cent after new data showed that US retail spending in September rose just 0.1 per cent, which was half the pace expected by economists.

Locally, Australian Bureau of Statistics releases employment figures for September In equities news, Woodside Petroleum, Fortescue Metals, Whitehaven Coal, and Iluka all release quarterly production reports.

And in Melbourne, blood products and vaccines supplier CSL holds its annual general meeting.

In Australia, the market on Wednesday was lower as falls in commodity prices weighed on sharemarket.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 5.6 points, or 0.11 per cent, at 5,197.3.

The broader All Ordinaries index was down 4.2 points, or 0.08 per cent, at 5,230.4.