Australia shares seen dipping on US debt, China demand concerns

SYDNEY, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Australian shares are likely to
open weaker on Wednesday, following a dip in iron ore prices,
with investors becoming concerned about demand from China and
the debt ceiling issue in the United States.

* Australian share price index futures edged down
0.1 percent, a 30.6-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200
index close. The benchmark ended 0.1 percent lower at
4,716.6 on Tuesday.
* New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index lost 1.1
points to 4,169.9 in early trade.
* The Dow and S&P 500 edged higher on Tuesday after
stronger-than-expected retail data, although tech heavyweight
Apple dragged on the market for a third day.
* Copper prices hit two-week lows on Tuesday as investors
grew concerned about the U.S. debt ceiling and the cloudy
outlook for demand from top consumer China.
* Rio Tinto aims to boost iron ore output by
15 percent this year after production in 2012 climbed to 253
million tonnes, beating its own guidance, as resurgent Chinese
demand drives a price recovery.
* Leighton Holdings will be in the frame after
media reported Hong Kong telecommunications company PCCW
was looking to bid for its infrastructure assets,
including NextGen Networks.

----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2247 GMT ------------
INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 1472.34 0.11% 1.660
USD/JPY 88.78 -0% 0.000
10-YR US TSY YLD 1.836 -- -0.012
SPOT GOLD 1678.99 0.03% 0.490
US CRUDE 93.39 0.12% 0.110
DOW JONES 13534.89 0.20% 27.57
ASIA ADRS 134.79 -0.44% -0.60
-------------------------------------------------------------

* Dow, S&P 500 inch up with retailers but Apple drags again

* Oil slips as German data, US debt ceiling worries weigh

* Platinum at 3-month high on Amplats overhaul; gold firm

* Copper hits 2-week low amid US debt, China demand fears

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(Australia/New Zealand bureaux; +61 2 9373 1800/+64 4 471
4234)

(Reporting By Maggie Lu Yueyang; Editing by Paul Tait)