Dec 8 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set to open lower on Tuesday, with losses in the energy sector likely to weigh on the benchmark as oil prices fell overnight amid a surge in COVID-19 infections.
Oil prices fell around 1% on Monday as surging coronavirus cases and heightened tensions between the United States and China, the world's top oil consumers, put pressure on the market. O/R
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 fell 0.2%, a 14-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark rose 0.6% on Monday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.2% in early trade.