Australian shares are expected to open flat Monday despite gains on Wall Street last Friday as investors continued to assess mixed signals on potential trade negotiations between the US and China.

In domestic news, investors will keep an eye on inflation data due Wednesday amid hopes for a rate cut from the Reserve Bank of Australia next month.

Wall Street finished last Friday's session broadly higher, with the Nasdaq Composite rising 1.3% and the S&P 500 up 0.7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told ABC News on Sunday that he sees a "path" to a trade deal with China but stopped short of confirming whether President Donald Trump had spoken directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate an agreement.

In corporate news, ASX Limited (ASX:ASX) launched a review of its rules on shareholder approvals for mergers and acquisitions in the wake of backlash over its decision to allow James Hardie Industries (ASX:JHX) to merge with New York Stock Exchange-listed Azek Co. without an investor vote, The Australian Financial Review reported Sunday.

Elsewhere, Meridian Energy (NZE:MEL, ASX:MEZ) named Mandy Simpson chief financial officer, effective Sept. 1, according to a Monday filing with the Australian and New Zealand bourses.

Australia's benchmark index rose 0.6%, or 47.70 points, to close at 7,968.20 last April 25.