Nov 20 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set to open flat on Monday, as gains in oil-driven stocks are expected to offset the weak leads from Wall Street which closed lower on Friday.
Oil bounced back over 2 percent on Friday after falling for five straight sessions as a major U.S. crude pipeline was shut and traders anticipated an OPEC deal to extend curbs on production. O/R
However, Wall Street ended last week on a sour note, with major indexes slipping modestly as investors weighed the fate of the Republicans' tax overhaul plan. .N
In Australia, the local share price index futures YAPcm1 fell 0.07 percent or 4 points to 5,959, a 1.7-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark rose 0.2 percent on Friday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.1 percent or 8 points to 8,069.980 at 2102 GMT.