Asia tries to see light in trade talks, Brexit votes
By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian share markets edged ahead on Tuesday amid cheery chatter about the chance of a Sino-U.S.
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian share markets edged ahead on Tuesday amid cheery chatter about the chance of a Sino-U.S. trade deal, while investors were sanguine yet another vote on Brexit would still avert a hard exit.
A holiday in Tokyo kept turnover light and MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan <.MIAPJ0000PUS> added a slight 0.13%.
Futures for Japan's Nikkei
U.S. President Donald Trump sounded upbeat on a China deal on Monday, while White House adviser Larry Kudlow said tariffs on Chinese goods scheduled for December could be withdrawn if talks go well.
Trade-sensitive technology stocks <.SPLRCT> rose 1.1%, pulling the S&P 500 <.SPX> up 0.69% and near to a record closing high. The Dow <.DJI> gained 0.21%, while the Nasdaq <.IXIC> rose 0.91%. [.N]
The better mood saw safe-haven bonds extend their recent pullback, with 10-year Treasury yields
In foreign exchange markets, the dollar found support against the yen at 108.60
The euro paused after its recent run higher and was last trading quietly at $1.1151
Sterling held firm at $1.2972
"If the House of Commons vote in favour of the deal, GBP/USD could rally towards $1.3500 over the medium term. The UK would then enter a transition period that lasts until 31 December 2020," said Kim Mundy, a currency strategist at CBA.
"If the Commons rejects the deal, GBP/USD will likely stabilise around $1.2800, because the risk of a hard Brexit will remain low," he added. "Early UK general elections would be the next most logical way forward."
In commodity markets, spot gold was idling at $1,483.70 per ounce
Oil prices were near flat as the market fretted about the health of the global economy and the future for energy demand. [O/R]
Brent crude
(Editing by Sam Holmes)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
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