nov 19 reuters  australia shares were set to open flat on friday as likely gains for the tech sector from a strong session for us peers could be countered by weakness in financial stocks the local share price index futures rose 01 but were at a 42point discount to the underlying spasx 200 index axjo close the benchmark had inched 01 higher on thursday meanwhile new zealands benchmark spnzx 50 index nz50 fell 02 to 1277425 points in early trade reporting by yamini c s in bengaluru editing by sriraj kalluvila