Dec 9 (Reuters) - Australian shares were set to open higher on Wednesday, tracking gains on Wall Street after encouraging COVID-19 vaccine developments, while a jump in bullion prices was likely to boost the country's prominent gold sector.
Major averages on Wall Street touched record levels on Tuesday while gold prices rose to a two-week peak, buoyed by growing expectations of more U.S. fiscal stimulus. .N GOL/
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 rose 0.5%, a 33.3-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark rose 0.2% on Tuesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 0.8% in early trade.