Australian shares are expected to open flat on Wednesday, with plunging oil prices expected to drag on energy stocks and offset possible gains in other sectors on renewed U.S.-China trade talks.
Index futures YAPcm1 fell 3 points to 5,829, a 5.2-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark shed 1.8 percent on Tuesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose marginally in early trade.