Australia shares likely to open higher; NZ rises

    Aug 23 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set to open higher
on Monday at the start of the final week of the current domestic
earnings season, tracking a strong Wall Street finish from
Friday and despite pressure from falling commodity prices.
    The local share price index futures          rose 0.47%, a
37.9-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index        
close. The benchmark edged down 0.05% to 7,460.9 points at the
close on Friday.
    Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50
index         rose 0.4% to 12990.7 in early trade.
    
       

 (Reporting by Riya Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Cooney)