SYDNEY: Asian share markets edged higher on Tuesday and Europe looked set to follow as investors awaited a speech by President Donald Trump on U.S. trade policy and on news he will likely delay a decision on whether to slap tariffs on European autos.
Japan's Nikkei, which dithered either side of flat most of the day, ended 0.8per cent higher. But Shanghai blue chips eased 0.2per cent after bank lending growth undershot analysts' estimates, while Australian shares were down, too.AdvertisementA positive speech on U.S.-China trade would likely satisfy market participants even without specific details of the"Phase 1" agreement under negotiation, said Jim Paulsen, chief investment officer at The Leuthold Group in Minneapolis.
Investors also were anxious about the situation in Hong Kong after a violent escalation of protests knocked nearly 2per cent off Asia-exposed banks HSBC and StanChart.Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday said protesters who are trying to"paralyze" the city were extremely selfish and hoped all universities and schools would urge students not to participate in violence.
In currency markets, the main action was in sterling which hit a six-month high on the euro on Monday after the Brexit Party said it would not contest previously Conservative held seats in the UK election.
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