Global Markets: Asian shares mark time before Trump speech

By Wayne Cole

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares started cautiously on Wednesday as investors waited to see if U.S. President Donald Trump drops any hints of progress on tariffs in his State of the Union speech.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was flat with China and several other markets in the region still closed for the Lunar New Year holiday. Japan's Nikkei edged up 0.3 percent, while E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 barely budged.

Dow Jones reported on Tuesday that U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer plan to hold talks in Beijing early next week, citing an unidentified senior administration official.

Trump was expected to challenge Democrats to approve funding for his long-sought border wall but stopped short of declaring a national emergency over it, at least for now. The speech starts at 2100 ET (0200 GMT).

Investors are also interested in any detail on a long-touted plan for infrastructure spending, which has yet to get a single road or bridge built.

"Trump is likely to tout progress on the trade front, though many key structural issues are likely still outstanding," said Richard Franulovich, Westpac's head of FX strategy.

"An infrastructure plan is likely to be resuscitated again. A Democrat led-Congress will likely be more sympathetic, which would be a positive for risk appetite."

Wall Street had already racked up gains courtesy of strong corporate results from Europe and the U.S., including a blockbuster from Estee Lauder Cos Inc. [.N]

The Dow ended Tuesday up 0.68 percent, while the S&P 500 gained 0.47 percent and the Nasdaq 0.74 percent.

Treasury bonds also bounced, helped by data showing a surprisingly soft U.S. service sector index of 56.7, with new orders falling to a one-year low.

A LENGTHY PAUSE

The Federal Reserve should leave interest rates where they are until the U.S. economic outlook is clearer, Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan said on Tuesday, a process that could take several more months.

The dollar held up well thanks in part to a retreat in sterling, which hit two-week lows at $1.2922 after poor survey data and uncertainty about Brexit talks pushed it below a key market level. [GBP/]

Against a basket of currencies, the dollar was firm at 96.064 and well above last week's low of 95.162. It was steady on the yen at 109.94.

The euro slipped to $1.1407 after a survey showed on Tuesday that euro zone businesses expanded at their slowest pace since mid-2013 at the start of the year.

The Australian dollar was a rare gainer after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) sounded less dovish than speculators had wagered on at its first policy meeting of the year on Tuesday.

Markets are now all ears for a speech by RBA Governor Philip Lowe at 0130 GMT.

"The Bank could keep to its mantra of "the next move in cash rates is more likely to be up", though not any time soon and presumably even further away," said Rodrigo Catril, a senior FX strategist at National Australia Bank.

"However, increased downside risks both globally and domestically will likely mean the Governor will be less confident of this statement than was the case a few months ago."

In commodity markets, the Wall Street Journal reported Saudi Arabia and its Persian Gulf allies were proposing a formal partnership with a 10-nation group led by Russia to try to manage the global oil market, an alliance that could transform the cartel.

U.S. crude futures rose 15 cents to $53.81 in early trade. Brent had ended Tuesday down 40 cents at $62.11.

Spot gold held at $1,314.71 per ounce, short of its recent peak at $1,326.30.

(Editing by Sam Holmes)