* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* MSCI ex-Japan near flat, S&P futures edge higher
* U.S. President Trump says he had to 'take China on'
* Eyes on Fed minutes, Jackson Hole meeting for rate outlook
By Swati Pandey and Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Asian shares flatlined on
Wednesday as worries about global recession and endless trade
wars wrestled with hopes for more monetary and fiscal stimulus
to keep growth going.
Much depends on what the Federal Reserve does with U.S.
interest rates, making markets hyper-sensitive to the minutes -
due later on Wednesday - of its most recent meeting.
Traders are also awaiting the central bank's annual Jackson
Hole seminar later this week and a Group of Seven summit this
weekend for clues on what additional steps policymakers will
take to boost economic growth.
Morgan Stanley economist Ellen Zentner advised clients to
watch for the use of the word "somewhat" when Fed Chair Powell
describes further policy adjustments.
"Acknowledgment that downside risks have increased with no
characterisation of 'somewhat' could be taken as confirmation
that it is likely the Fed makes a larger cut in September,"
Zentner wrote in a note.
Futures 0#FF: are fully priced for a quarter-point cut in
rates next month, and over 100 basis points of easing by the end
of next year. FEDWATCH
With so much riding on the Fed, investors were
understandably anxious. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific
shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS dithered either side of
flat after three straight days of gains.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 slipped 0.3%, while Shanghai blue
chips .CSI300 added a slim 0.06%. Faring a bit better were
E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 , which firmed 0.3%, while
EUROSTOXX 50 futures STXEc1 edged up 0.1%.
Political turmoil in Hong Kong, Britain and Italy has also
heightened uncertainties for investors. The prospect of new
elections in Italy after the resignation of Prime Minister
Giuseppe Conte added to jitters, sending Italian sovereign bond
yields sliding. China's biggest e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding
BABA.N has delayed its up to $15 billion listing in Hong Kong
amid the political unrest, two people with knowledge of the
matter told Reuters. President Donald Trump again showed no signs of backing down
in his tussle with China, declaring on Tuesday a confrontation
was necessary even if it caused short-term harm to the U.S.
economy. His strongly-worded remarks came hours before his government
announced approval of an $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin
LMT.N F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a move sure to draw
Beijing's ire and further dim prospects for a quick trade deal.
MORE STIMULUS
Alarm bells started ringing last week when yields on U.S.
10-year notes fell below two-year yields for the first time
since 2007, an inversion that has presaged previous recessions
and is widely watched by markets.
That was enough to prompt Trump and his advisers to examine
ways to provide a fiscal boost to the U.S. economy, should it be
deemed necessary. In addition, the central banks of the euro zone, Australia
and China are all expected open the monetary spigot further
this year, while Germany is considering fiscal stimulus.
Those prospects have driven yields lower. Benchmark U.S.
10-year Treasury yields US10YT=RR stood at 1.57% on Wednesday
from a high of 1.625% on Monday.
Currency markets have been mostly subdued ahead of the
Jackson Hole meeting and Fed minutes. The dollar was a shade
firmer on the yen at 106.48 JPY= after losing 0.4% on Tuesday,
while sterling GBP=D3 was last trading at $1.2150.
The euro EUR= eased to $1.1090, just off the week's top of
$0.1113. The dollar index .DXY was a fraction firmer at
98.213 and not far from a three-week high.
In commodities markets, U.S. crude CLc1 firmed 25 cents to
$56.38 per barrel while Brent LCOc1 added 32 cents to $60.35.
O/R
Spot gold XAU= slipped 0.3% to $1,502.12 an ounce.
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Asia-Pacific valuations https://tmsnrt.rs/2Dr2BQA
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(Editing by Sam Holmes and Richard Borsuk)