Australian shares were little changed on Wednesday, hovering near 8,731 in early trade after three consecutive sessions of gains. Modest support from retail trade, industrial services, and consumer durables was offset by softness in technology and financial stocks, leaving the broader index flat. Investors assessed September industry data pointing to a sharp contraction in construction activity and ongoing weakness in manufacturing, while awaiting August building approvals later today and October inflation expectations in the coming days. U.S. equity futures were muted after Wall Street notched fresh record highs overnight, supported by easing Treasury yields and optimism over AI-driven earnings. Chinese markets remained closed for holidays and are set to reopen on Thursday. In local moves, Northern Star Resources advanced 3.4%, Evolution Mining rose 2.0%, Capricorn Metals gained 2.6%, and Perseus Mining added 2.3%. In contrast, three of the four major banks slipped between 0.3% and 0.8%, BHP declined 0.7%, and Rio Tinto eased 0.6%.