The Australian dollar opened flat on Friday, after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced an exploratory mission to debt stricken Greece next week.

At 0700 AEST, the Australian dollar was trading at $US0.9345/47, almost steady with Thursday's close of $US0.9342/44.

Since 1700 AEST on Thursday, the local unit has traded between $US0.9310 and $US0.9353.

During Thursday's domestic session, China said its economy grew by 11.9 per cent in the first three months of the year.

It was the second successive quarter of double-digit growth for the world's third-largest economy as it extends its recovery from a slowdown caused by the global slump.

China International Monetary Fund