The Australian stock market is expected to open lower today, with Wall Street and base metals in London offering negative leads on Friday, and the SPI futures index in Sydney down slightly.
At 0714 AEST, on the Sydney Futures exchange, the June share price index was down eleven points at 5,755.
In local economics news today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases its housing finance data for March, and the National Australia Bank releases its business survey for April.
In equities, a shareholder scheme meeting will be held in Sydney to consider a proposed merger between private health insurers BUPA Australia Pty Ltd and MBF Australia Ltd.
Bluescope Steel is holding a market briefing.
On Friday, the Australian share market closed higher after strong gains from the banking sector, led by National Australia Bank, which delivered an interim profit in excess of $2 billion.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed 48.6 points higher, or 0.85 per cent, at 5771.8, while the broader All Ordinaries added 43.5 points, or 0.75 per cent, to 5844.4.