(Reuters) - Australian shares are expected to open slightly lower on Friday, as investors will likely exercise caution ahead of growth data from the country's biggest trade partner, China.
Mining heavyweights such as BHP Group <BHP.AX> and Rio Tinto <RIO.AX> are likely to be pressured due to tumbling iron ore prices.
The local share price index futures <YAPcm1> fell 0.2% or 13 points, a 33.7-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index <.AXJO> close. The benchmark skidded 0.8% on Thursday to snap a five-session rally.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index <.NZ50> inched up by 0.1%, or 10.13 points, to 11,151.99.
(Reporting by Devika Syamnath in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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