* MSCI Asia ex-Japan touches near-8-month high
* European share futures point higher
* Australian shares lead region, boosted by easing
expectations
* Chinese shares edge up on strong output, sales data
* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
By Andrew Galbraith
SHANGHAI, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Asian shares hit their highest
in nearly eight months on Monday after the United States and
China agreed on a preliminary trade deal, with Australian shares
leading the way on expectations of more easing of monetary
policy there.
European shares were set to build on the previous week's
gains. In early European trades on Monday, pan-region Euro Stoxx
50 futures STXEc1 were up 0.62%, German DAX futures FDXc1
were 0.5% higher and FTSE futures FFIc1 rose 0.6%.
U.S. stock futures also pointed to stronger gains to start
the week, with the S&P 500 e-minis ESc1 up 0.27%.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on Sunday a
deal was "totally done", notwithstanding some needed revisions,
and would nearly double U.S. exports to China over the next two
years. Positive sentiment helped push the MSCI's broadest index of
Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS to its highest
level since April 18. It was last up 0.25%.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 .AXJO led the way as it jumped
1.63%, while shares in Taiwan .TWII added 0.22%.
Ryan Felsman, senior economist at CommSec in Sydney, said
the trade deal and the receding risk of a disorderly Brexit
after the UK general election produced a strong Conservative
majority provided support for sentiment in Australia.
A lower-than-expected Australian budget surplus due to a
sluggish economy has also "built expectations by markets for
further easing from the Reserve Bank (of Australia)," he said.
Chinese investors initially had a more tepid reaction to the
trade news, with the blue-chip CSI300 index .CSI300 struggling
to rise further after trade hopes fanned a near 2% rise on
Friday.
But after a lacklustre morning session, the CSI300 index
turned higher in the afternoon and was last up 0.3%, helped by
data showing the country's industrial output growth and retail
sales jumped more than expected in November. Japan's Nikkei 225 .N225 succumbed to some profit-taking,
falling 0.29% after surging 2.55% to a 14-month closing high on
Friday.
The "phase one" agreement suspended a threatened round of
U.S. tariffs on a $160 billion list of Chinese imports that was
scheduled to take effect on Sunday. The United States also
agreed to halve the tariff rate, to 7.5%, on $120 billion worth
of Chinese goods.
Felsman at CommSec said investors wanted more details and
the reduction in U.S. tariffs may have disappointed some looking
for more aggressive action.
"Certainly there were expectations perhaps that the rollback
would be more significant than just 50%," he said.
The 17-month-old trade dispute between the world's two
largest economies has roiled financial markets and taken a toll
on world economic growth.
"The announcement is a step in the right direction for the
two nations, but does not completely reduce the chances of trade
disputes between the two nations in the year," ANZ analysts said
in a note.
U.S. shares had struck a cautious note on Friday, paring
initial gains to end barely higher as weary investors awaited
signs of a concrete deal.
However, the news of a deal was still enough to send the S&P
500 .SPX to a record closing high of 3,168.8, up 0.01%. The
Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 0.2% to end at 8,734.88, also a
record, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 0.01%
to 28,135.38.
U.S. Treasury yields moved higher on Monday, reflecting a
more positive mood. Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes US10YT=RR
rose to 1.8365% compared with their U.S. close of 1.821% on
Friday, and the two-year yield US2YT=RR touched 1.6223%
compared with a U.S. close of 1.604%.
The dollar was slightly higher against the yen at 109.39
JPY= and the euro was up 0.14% at $1.1135. Sterling, which
jumped last week after the UK election, gained 0.48% to $1.3389.
The dollar index .DXY , which tracks the greenback against
a basket of six major rivals, was down 0.12% at 97.053.
Oil prices, which had risen on Friday following the deal,
cooled in early Asian trade on Monday. Brent crude shed 0.31% to
$65.02 per barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1
was down 0.37% at $59.85 per barrel.
Spot gold prices XAU= were flat at $1,475.68 per ounce.