July 20 (Reuters) - Australian shares are likely to open little changed on Monday as investors weigh a surge in Victoria's COVID-19 cases against stimulus prospects from the European Union and the U.S. Congress.
Australia's second most populous state reported 363 fresh infections on Sunday, prompting authorities to make masks mandatory in its capital Melbourne. markets around the globe closed higher on Friday on prospects of stimulus to aid the virus-hit world economy. .N MKTS/GLOB
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 rose 0.03%, a 29.6-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark rose 0.4% on Friday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.5% to 11,640.01 in early trade.