PERTH: The Australian stocks looks set to open flat after falls on Wall Street following dull US data on hiring and vehicle sales underscored the feeling of caution. European markets, however, ended higher.
At 6.45am (AEDT), the share price index futures contract was down one point at 5,882.
In local economic news on Thursday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases retail trade figures and international trade in goods and services data, both for January.
Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Philip Lowe is slated to deliver a speech at the Goldman Sachs Annual Global Macro-economic Conference in Sydney.
An Australian Institute of Company Directors Leadership lunch in Melbourne features BlueScope Steel chairman Graham Kraehe, AMP chairman Simon McKeon and Telstra director Dr Nora Scheinkestel as speakers.
The local market closed lower on Wednesday as three major stocks traded ex-dividend and economic growth figures disappointed investors.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 32.3 points, or 0.54 per cent, at 5,901.6.
The broader All Ordinaries index fell 31.4 points, or 0.53 per cent, at 5,871.5, according to preliminary figures.
