World shares edge higher as China-US trade talks planned

World shares edged higher on Tuesday after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed that China-US trade talks were due to resume in two weeks' time.

Germany's DAX was up less than 0.1 per cent at 12,346, while the CAC 40 in Paris rose 0.2 per cent to 5,641.

Britain's FTSE 100 edged 0.2 per cent lower to 7,299 after the country's top court said the prime minister's suspension of parliament was illegal, adding new uncertainty to the Brexit saga.

The future contracts for the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 picked up 0.3 per cent.

Markets in China were steady after China's central bank governor said policy will stay "stable and healthy," suggesting Beijing has no plans to join the United States and Europe in cutting interest rates to stimulate economic growth.

Yi Gang said Tuesday the People's Bank of China will avoid a "massive stimulus."