Jan 3 (Reuters) - Australian shares are seen edging higher on Wednesday after a quiet entry into the year, with investors expected to take heart from Wall Street's strong start to 2018.
Material stocks are likely to buoy the Australian market, riding on a rally in metal prices.The local share price index futures rose 0.1 percent or 8 points to 6,030, a 31.3-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close. The benchmark edged 0.1 percent lower on Tuesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.2 percent at 2117 GMT on its first day of trade in the new year.
(Reporting by Chris Thomas in Bengaluru; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.