Australia shares at 4,600, just shy of 17-mth high

(Updates with opening levels)
MELBOURNE, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Australian shares climbed 0.6
percent in early trade on Tuesday to 4,600, propelled by a rise
in iron ore prices and by gains on Wall Street on renewed
optimism that a deal to avert the U.S. 'fiscal cliff' will soon
be reached.
Top miners led the gains, with Rio Tinto up 1.4
percent.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index gained 27.3 points
to 4,600.7 at 2312 GMT, just shy of last week's 17-month high of
4,603. The benchmark ended down slightly on Monday.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX 50 index was down 2
points at 3,964.4.

(Reporting by Victoria Thieberger; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)