July 16 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set to rise for a second straight session on Thursday, riding on Wednesday's optimism over a potential COVID-19 vaccine despite a surge in fresh infections in Australia.
On Tuesday, trial of an experimental vaccine by biotech start-up Moderna Inc MRNA.O showed encouraging results, sending shares up around the globe. Australian state premiers said on Wednesday that harsher movement restrictions would be imposed if a COVID-19 outbreak in the country is not brought under control. local share price index futures YAPcm1 rose 0.4%, a 0.1-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark rose 1.9% on Wednesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.5% to 11,670.37 in early trade.