Australian shares are expected to open lower after Wall Street...

Australian shares are expected to open lower after Wall Street indices were down overnight, and commodity prices fell.

At 0711 AEDT on the Sydney Futures Exchange, the March share price index contract was 51 points lower at 4,667.

In economic news on Wednesday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases its labour price index for December and data on construction work done in the December quarter.

In company news, first half results are due from Pacific Brands, Mortgage Choice, Suncorp-Metway, Centro Retail Trust, Virgin Blue Holdings, Regional Express, Transfield Services, Skilled Group and Asciano Group.