The Australian market looks set to open flat following rises on international markets after surprisingly strong US jobs figures.
At 0653 AEDT on Tuesday, the December share price index futures contract was steady at 5,143.
QBE shares fell more than 22 per cent after the company said it expects to post a $250 million loss for calendar 2013 because of weakness in the North American market.
In economic news on Tuesday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases its October housing finance data and the National Australia Bank its monthly business survey for November.
In equities news, former Brambles division Recall is expected to list on the ASX, Woodside Petroleum has an investor update scheduled while Billabong International holds its annual general meeting on the Gold Coast.
In Australia, the market on Monday lost ground as insurance giant QBE’s losses weighed on the financial sector.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index dropped 41.6 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 5,144.4.
The broader All Ordinaries index shed 37.6 points, or 0.73 per cent, to 5,148.4.
