** Australian technology sub-index gains as much as 0.5% to hit a record high of 2,642.0

** Sub-index gains as Nasdaq futures up 1%

** ASX-listed shares of Block Inc gain as much as 0.8% while shares of Xero add as much as 1.1%

** Sub-index up ~44% YTD at 0553 GMT, outperforimg the benchmark ASX200 index which is up ~8%

(Reporting by Echha Jain in Bengaluru)

((Echha.jain@thomsonreuters.com))