Dec 16 (Reuters) - Australian shares were set to rise at the open on Wednesday, tracking strong overnight gains on Wall Street, buoyed by optimism over potential U.S. government stimulus and hopes for further easy monetary policy from the U.S. Federal Reserve.
A recent uptick in coronavirus cases in the United States has fuelled hopes that U.S. congressional leaders will reach a quick deal to green-light a fresh COVID-19 relief package. local share price index futures YAPcm1 rose 0.7%, a 50.7-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark fell 0.4% on Tuesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.1% to 12,782.55 at 2113 GMT.