In This Article:
* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Nikkei rises to 2019 high after Wall St gains
* Investors wager on progress at Sino-U.S. talks in Washington
* Signs mount major central banks turning reflationary
* Oil prices highest for year so far as supply tightens
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Asian share markets firmed on Monday as investors dared to hope for both progress at Sino-U.S. trade talks in Washington this week and more policy stimulus from major central banks.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.3 percent, partially recovering from a sharp fall last Friday.
Japan's Nikkei climbed 1.6 percent to hit its highest for the year so far, while Australia's main index rose 0.7 percent. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 were flat, with trade thinned by a holiday in U.S. markets.
The Dow and the Nasdaq had boasted their eighth consecutive weekly gains on wagers the United States and China would hammer out an agreement resolving their protracted trade war.
The two sides will resume negotiations this week with U.S. President Donald Trump saying he may extend a March 1 deadline for a deal. Both reported progress in five days of talks in Beijing last week.
"That does not rule out a setback or two between now and the start of March," said analysts at CBA in a note.
"Even so, we still think that both sides have good reasons to want to get to an agreement. And, so motivated, it makes an agreement more likely than not."
There are also growing expectations of more reflationary policies from some of the world's more powerful central banks.
Data out last week showed China's banks made the most new loans on record in January as policymakers tried to jumpstart sluggish investment.
Minutes of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting are due on Wednesday and should provide more guidance on the likelihood or not for rate hikes this year. There is also talk the bank will keep a much larger balance sheet than previously planned.
"Given the range of speakers since the January meeting who support "patience," the Fed minutes should reiterate a dovish message overall," said analysts at TD Securities in a note.
A roll call of Fed officials are speaking at various events this week including a round table on Friday covering the future of its balance sheet.
EYEING THE ECB
The European Central Bank's Olli Rehn told a German newspaper on Sunday that recent data point to a weakening euro zone economy and interest rates would remain at the current level until monetary policy goals have been met.
That came amid much speculation the ECB would launch another round of Targeted Long-Term Refinancing Operations (TLTRO) to support bank lending.