* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* PBoC chief says ample room to ease policy if needed, dlr rises
* China, Hong Kong markets closed for public holiday
* White House denies delay in Mexico tariffs
* U.S. payrolls seen +185,000 but risks on downside
By Wayne Cole and Swati Pandey
SYDNEY, June 7 (Reuters) - Asian shares were slightly higher on Friday on expectations global central banks will soon embark on an easing cycle in the face of international trade frictions and fears of a world recession.
Those concerns blunted some of the optimism, with liquidity light during Asian trading as China and Hong Kong markets were shut for a public holiday.
Japan's Nikkei ended 0.5% higher, Australia's benchmark index climbed 0.8% while South Korea's Kospi added 0.4%.
In early European trades, the pan-region Euro Stoxx 50 futures were up 0.3%, German DAX futures gained 0.4 while FTSE futures rose 0.2%.
E-Minis futures for the S&P500 were last up 0.2%, pointing to a positive opening for U.S. markets.
"Central banks are waiting for one man to act; Donald Trump," said Chris Weston, head of research at Melbourne-based broker Pepperstone, as markets fretted over the U.S. president's tariff threats on a number of countries including China and Mexico.
"July will be a big month of central bank easing," he added. "They hold a wait-and-see attitude and will be nimble in accordance with the developments."
Financial markets are pricing in a 67% chance of a cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve at its July 31 meeting while there is a near 60% chance of a second easing by New Zealand and Australian central banks next month.
In China, central bank chief Yi Gang said there was plenty of room for fiscal and monetary policy easing if the protracted trade war with the United States worsened.
Yi signalled the yuan could ease below 7 if U.S.-China trade relations turned even more acrimonious. The remarks sent the dollar 0.2% higher in a thin Asian market to 6.9429.
As expectations grow for the Fed to lower rates, the dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, has eased 0.7% this week so far. It was flat at 97.054.
Investors are now focused on the U.S. employment report later in the day for further cues about the health of the world's largest economy.
Market forecasts are for jobs to rise a solid 185,000 in May and unemployment to stay at a low 3.6%, though much was in doubt after dismal data on private hiring released earlier in the week.
"We haven't adjusted our projection of 185,000 for overall nonfarm payrolls in May," said Kevin Cummins, senior U.S. economist at RBS.