March 26 (Reuters) - Australian shares are poised to open higher on Thursday as the U.S. Senate neared a vote to clear a massive economic aid package aimed at mitigating the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 rose 2.1%, a 150.9-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark finished 5.5% higher on Wednesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 rose 1.9% to its highest level in more than one-week in early trade.