News: Australia shares likely to tread water, NZ flat

SYDNEY, April 15 (Reuters) - Australian shares are likely to post muted gains on Friday, tracking lacklustre trading in global markets with focus on a slew of economic data from China due later in the day.

Local share price index futures .YAPcm1 rose 0.3 percent overnight, sitting at a 13.6-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX200 index (xjo). The benchmark rose 1.3 percent on Thursday, its third straight session of gains.

The Reserve Bank of Australia releases its semi-annual Financial Stability Review later in the day.

Shareholders of Morgan Stanley-linked office block company Investa Office Fund (IOF) to vote on a A$2.5 billion buyout by Australia's DEXUS Property Group (DXS).

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index (nz50) was flat at 6,821.74 points on Friday after hitting a record high in the previous session.

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For a summary of overnight action across global markets, click 

on [AU/CALL] For a digest of the day's business stories in Australian newspapers, click on [PRESS/AUB]

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