ASX to climb; Iron ore rises, Bitcoin tops $US20k for first time

Summary

• ASX futures were up 0.4% at 6706.0 and pointing to early gains for the local sharemarket
• The Nasdaq closed at record highs, while the S&P 500 also rose as investors awaited a potential US stimulus package. The US Federal Reserve repeated its pledge to keep interest rates near zero
• Iron ore climbed 0.9% to$US156.54 a tonne. Spot gold was up 0.1% at $US1855.64 an ounce. Brent crude rose 0.7% to $US51.12 a barrel and US oil added 0.5% to $US47.86
• Bitcoin rose above $US20,000 for the first time in its 12-year history, continuing a surge that has seen the cryptocurrency rise 150% this year 
• The Australian Bureau of Statistics is set to release employment data for November at 11.30am AEDT. The jobless rate is tipped to remain steady at 7%