Australia shares set to open lower; New Zealand down

Australian shares are expected to fall
at the open on Friday, tracking Wall Street lower after a string
of weak earnings results and as the European Central Bank
chief’s comments on an upbeat economy disappointed investors
eyeing the likelihood of rate cuts.
The ECB signaled its intention to explore monetary easing
but did not cut interest rates on Thursday, although the market
expects the U.S. Federal Reserve to take a more dovish stance
next week to bolster the econ