* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Asian trade quiet with Tokyo off, no major data due
* Trump, Kudlow sound upbeat on China trade talks
* Pound holds firm as more Brexit votes loom
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, Oct 22 (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 NKc1 were trading flat at
22,700, compared to Monday's index close at 22,548 .N225 .
South Korean stocks .KS11 rose 0.4%, while E-Mini futures for
the S&P 500 ESc1 were little changed.
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on Chinese goods scheduled for December could be withdrawn if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 US10YT=RR at a
five-week peak of 1.80%. US/
In foreign exchange markets, the dollar found support
against the yen at 108.60 JPY= while staying steady on a
basket of currencies to 97.307 .DXY .
The euro paused after its recent run higher and was last
trading quietly at $1.1151 EUR= .
Sterling held firm at $1.2972 GBP=D3 after Prime Minister
Boris Johnson failed to get a vote on his Brexit deal and will
try again on Tuesday to get the first stage of a withdrawal bill
through Parliament. "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 XAU= .
Oil prices were near flat as the market fretted about the
health of the global economy and the future for energy demand.
Brent crude LCOc1 futures inched up 7 cents to $59.03,
while U.S. crude CLc1 added 9 cents to $53.40 a barrel.
Asia stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
Asia-Pacific valuations https://tmsnrt.rs/2Dr2BQA
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(Editing by Sam Holmes)