Oil prices climbed as a private survey on Wednesday showed China's services sector expanded in August at its fastest pace in three months.

The Australian share price index futures gained 0.3pc to 6,555.0, a 2-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close.

The benchmark lost 0.3pc on Wednesday as figures showed the domestic economy grew at its slowest pace in a decade last quarter.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index inched up 0.1pc to 11,018.62 in early trade.