In This Article:
* MSCI Asia-Pacific index up 0.15 pct, Nikkei by 0.3 pct
* Stocks manage to shake off earlier losses after divisive G7
* Markets awaiting US-N.Korea summit, Fed and ECB decisions
* S&P 500 futures trim bulk of earlier losses, last down 0.1 pct
By Shinichi Saoshiro
TOKYO, June 11 (Reuters) - Asia stocks shook off initial modest losses and edged up on Monday ahead of a U.S.-North Korea summit that might ease regional tensions, while investors also started to focus on key central bank meetings later this week.
Stocks dipped after U.S. President Donald Trump backed out of a joint Group of Seven communique over the weekend, in a blow to the group's efforts to show a united front.
The S&P 500 futures were down 0.1 percent after dropping as much as 0.3 percent.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped early but was last up 0.15 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.3 percent while the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.5 percent.
South Korea's KOSPI added 0.4 percent, and Japan's Nikkei climbed 0.3 percent.
"What took place at the G7 weekend was within the scope of earlier expectations. And while the countries disagreed on trade, they did seem to show a unified front on the North Korean issue, so there is also a positive element from the G7 affecting risk sentiment," said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management.
After the G7 meeting, the U.S. president withdrew his support for its communique and raised fresh trade concerns by taking aim at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid a spat over import tariffs.
"The G7 meeting in Canada reiterated the growing rift between Washington and its allies over free trade," wrote Tai Hui, chief market strategist for Asia Pacific at J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
"Business confidence, and subsequently capital spending, is at risk if this tension continues through the summer," he said, adding that central bank meetings will be critical events this week.
Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will have an unprecedented meeting on Tuesday in Singapore, possibly laying the groundwork for ending a nuclear stand-off between the old foes.
Investors also got prepared for a raft of other key events.
The Federal Reserve holds a two-day meeting starting on June 12, and it is widely expected to raise interest rates for the second time this year. The focus is on whether the central bank will hint at raising rates a total of four times in 2018.
The European Central Bank meets on June 14, when it could signal intentions to start unwinding its massive bond purchasing programme.