Australia shares set to gain on easing Middle East tensions, trade deal hopes; NZ up

Australian shares are set to rise and
will likely touch a record high on Friday, with de-escalating
tensions in the Middle East and the prospect of the United
States and China signing an early trade deal next week likely to
cheer stocks.
The Australian index closed at its highest-ever level and
U.S. stocks hit record highs on Thursday, after Washington and
Tehran backed off from further conflict after a spike in
tensions following the U.S. killing of a top Iranian gene