SYDNEY, July 12 (Reuters) - Australian shares were set to start firmer for a second straight session on Tuesday as talk of policy stimulus in Japan and the UK boosted a Wall Street benchmark to record peaks, while political uncertainty eased at home and abroad.
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 gained 0.5 percent to 5,327. The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO finished 2 percent, or 106.6 points higher at 5,337.1 on Monday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.2 percent in early trade.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ For a summary of overnight action across global markets, click on
AU/CALL For a digest of the day's business stories in Australian newspapers, click on
PRESS/AUB
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