Australian shares fell Friday as investors awaited the release of the latest US non-farm payroll data later in the day.

The S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.5% or 41.20 points to close at 8,118.80.

The US non-farm payroll report may help inform the size of rate cuts in the upcoming US Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting next week, Reuters reported.

Barring any surprises, economists are expecting the US central bank to cut rates by 0.25%, the report added.

On the domestic front, Australia's manufacturing sector contracted at a slower pace in October, with the S&P Judo Bank PMI rising to 47.3 in October from 46.7 in September.

Meanwhile, the Australian Bureau of Statics said Australia's final demand prices, excluding exports, rose 0.9% in the September quarter.

In addition, the bureau said in separate reports that Australia's seasonally adjusted household spending slipped 0.1% month on month in September, following a 0.2% rise in August, while the total value of new housing loans fell 0.3% to AU$30.21 billion in September after seven months of growth.

In corporate news, Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) shares fell more than 4% at market close after the company reported earnings per share of AU$4.23 for the half year ended Sept. 30, an increase from AU$3.662 per share in the year-ago period. Analysts polled by Visible Alpha expected an EPS of AU$4.58.

Amcor (ASX:AMC) reported earnings of $0.132 per share for the first quarter ended Sept. 30 of fiscal 2025, up from $0.105 per share in the year-ago period. Analysts polled by Visible Alpha expected EPS of $0.15.

The packaging firm said in a separate filing it agreed to sell its 50% stake in the Bericap North America joint venture for $122 million. Its shares fell 4% at market close.

Finally, New Zealand's Commerce Commission filed proceedings with the Auckland High Court against Fletcher Building's (ASX:FBU, NZE:FBU) plasterboard subsidiary Winstone Wallboards over alleged irregularities in rebate deals. The company's shares closed almost 1% higher in Australia.