Jan 15 (Reuters) - Australian shares are likely to edge higher on Tuesday, with heavyweight financials stocks expected to track their Wall Street peers higher.
While U.S. stocks declined on bleak trade data from China, the financial sub-index .SPSY rose 0.7 percent, bolstered by Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) C.N which reported better than anticipated fourth-quarter earnings. .N
The local share price futures index YAPcm1 rose 0.2 percent to 5,725, a 48.4-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark ended 0.02 percent lower on Monday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 was little changed in early trade at 8,969.50.