* Spreadbetters expect mixed open for European stocks
* MSCI Asia-Pacific index flat, Nikkei rises 0.5 pct
* Asia loses momentum after previous day's surge
* Dollar/yen dips briefly on Trump's govt shutdown comments
* Copper pulls away from 3-year highs, gold inches up
By Shinichi Saoshiro
TOKYO, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Asian stocks steadied on Wednesday, taking a breather after the previous day's surge, lacking the momentum to keep up with a global rally spurred by gains for tech shares on Wall Street and miners in Europe.
The dollar initially wobbled against the yen following campaign-rally threats by U.S. President Donald to force a government shutdown over funding a border wall, but it eventually squared the losses.
Spreadbetters expected a mixed start for European stocks, forecasting Britain's FTSE would open 0.15 percent lower, Germany's DAX to start 0.05 percent higher and France's CAC to open unchanged.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan , which initially inched up to a two-week high, pulled back to stand little changed following a 0.7 percent rally on Tuesday.
Australian stocks were down 0.3 percent and South Korea's KOSPI gave back earlier modest gains to slip 0.1 percent.
Japan's Nikkei bucked the trend and rose 0.3 percent, lifted as the dollar strengthened against the yen.
The Nikkei took its cues from Wall Street, which saw the Dow rise 0.9 percent, the S&P 500 climb 1 percent and the Nasdaq gain 1.4 percent on Tuesday as technology shares rallied.
European stocks had also risen overnight, supported by upbeat results from miners and a weaker euro.
Financial markets have been buffeted in recent weeks by heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula, turmoil in the White House, and growing doubts about Trump's ability to fulfil his economic agenda.
Stocks, however, continue to attract buyers in an environment where bond yields remain relatively low and companies have largely notched up strong earnings.
"The return of bargain hunters after a shallow correction in U.S. markets again demonstrates that investors are reluctant to reduce exposure to equity markets given low bond yields, solid profit growth and a lower US$," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney.
"In a situation where earnings yields on stocks remain attractive in relation to bond yields, investors are reluctant to respond too negatively to 'risk events' unless they represent a clear and present short-term danger."
The dollar was flat at 109.535 yen, coming off the day's low of 109.370 plumbed after President Trump told supporters in Arizona "If we have to close down our government, we're building that wall" in reference to his pledge to tighten immigration at the U.S.-Mexican border.