April 7 (Reuters) - Australian shares are likely to gain on Friday, with higher oil prices supporting energy stocks, while investors may be cautious awaiting the outcome of a meeting between China's President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Investors are anxious for news on China-U.S. trade relations and discussions on reining in North Korea's nuclear weapons program, according to market participants. .N
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 rose 0.3 percent, or 16 points, to 5,864.0, a 7.715-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark fell 0.3 percent in the previous session.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.2 percent, or 14.33 points, to 7,275.19 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
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>