May 15 (Reuters) - Australian shares are likely to be steady
at the open on Tuesday as investors shift focus to quarterly
wage data and a monthly employment report due this week, while
strong oil and iron ore prices are seen supporting energy and
commodity stocks. Investors will also be watching the minutes of the Reserve
Bank of Australia's May policy meeting at which it kept its cash
rate at an all-time low of 1.50 percent. The local share price index futures were flat at
6,122, a 13.3-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark rose 0.3 percent on Monday. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.35
percent to a record high in early trade, buoyed by gains in
Fletcher Building Ltd . (Reporting by Shanima A in Bengaluru
Editing by James Dalgleish)