* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Asian shares turn negative, Chinese markets weaker
* Oil gains after sell-off on Friday, gold pares losses
* E-Mini futures for S&P 500 up 0.4%
* Risk-sensitive Aussie firms, dollar up on yen
By Swati Pandey
SYDNEY, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Most Asian share markets slipped
on Monday as investors waited for more clarity on the Sino-U.S.
trade talks after recent negotiations, while oil gained more
than 1% as Middle East tensions remained elevated.
Analysts said investor sentiment was fragile with civil
unrest in Hong Kong, tensions in the Middle East and worries
over whether the United States and China would sign a trade deal
soon. Moves were further exaggerated by low volumes as Japanese
markets were shut for a public holiday.
Chinese shares opened in the negative territory, with the
blue-chip index .CSI300 down 1.5%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index
.HSI was 0.8% weaker after a weekend of sometimes violent
protests that saw pro-democracy activists vandalise a railway
station and shopping mall. South Korea's Kospi .KS11 was a touch weaker after
disappointing trade data while Australian and New Zealand shares
bucked the trend and were both about 0.3% higher.
That left MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares
outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS down 0.3% at 509.94 points. It is
still up more than 3% so far in September.
"There are real concerns about the impact on economies from
the trade dispute," said Michael McCarthy, Sydney-based
strategist at CMC Markets. "People are probably getting an idea
that this will be a long negotiation. And the longer it lingers
the more impact it will have economically."
E-mini futures for U.S. S&P 500 ESc1 and the Dow 1YMc1 ,
however, climbed nearly 0.4% each.
Over the weekend, the U.S. Trade Representative's office
issued a brief statement characterising the two days of talks
with China as "productive." It added that a principal-level
trade meeting in Washington would take place in October, as
previously planned. China's Commerce Ministry, in a brief statement, described
the talks as "constructive", and said they had also had a good
discussion on "detailed arrangements" for the high-level talks
in October.
Additionally, the United States removed tariffs from more
than 400 Chinese products in response to requests from U.S.
companies.
Despite the improved tone, markets still remain unconvinced
about the possibility of deal soon.
Investors were rattled by news on Friday that Chinese
officials unexpectedly cancelled a visit to U.S. farms this week
following their two days of negotiations in Washington.
One Shanghai-based analyst at Tebon Securities said the
cancellation had hit investor sentiment and could be a major
drag on Chinese A-shares in the near-term.
News that five Yemeni civilians were killed in air strikes
by the Saudi-led coalition further soured investor appetite.
SHOCK
Mideast tensions and worries about oil supplies helped Brent
crude LCOc1 futures jump 1%, or 64 cents, to $64.92 a barrel,
while U.S. crude CLc1 futures rose 0.98%, or 57 cents, to
$58.66 a barrel. O/R
The Pentagon has ordered additional troops to be deployed in
the Gulf region to strengthen Saudi Arabia's air and missile
defences following an attack on Saudi oil facilities.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday the
additional troops are for "deterrence and defence" and
Washington aimed to avoid war with Iran.
Markets will closely watch September manufacturing activity
surveys due from the United States and European Union later in
the day for any signs of a rebound.
Action in currency markets was muted.
The dollar gained 0.14% against the safe haven Japanese yen
to 107.69 JPY= after easing 0.5% last week. The risk-sensitive
Australian dollar AUD=D3 was up 0.24% at $0.6780.
The euro EUR=D3 was a shade higher as was the British
pound GBP= . That left the dollar index .DXY slightly weaker
at 98.449.
With risk appetite waning, spot gold XAU= pared early
losses to be flat at $1,516.39 an ounce.
Asia stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
Asia-Pacific valuations https://tmsnrt.rs/2Dr2BQA
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(Editing by Lincoln Feast)