* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Dollar weakens slightly on disappointing data
* Nikkei slips 0.5%, Chinese blue chips down 0.25%
* Safe haven gold rises on Buffet move
* Oil mostly holds gains after output cut
By Alun John and Chibuike Oguh
HONG KONG/NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Asian stocks inched
up on Tuesday as Sino-U.S. tensions weighed on optimism
generated by Wall Street's tech-driven rally, while the dollar
dropped against almost all major currencies.
The Trump administration announced on Monday it would
further tighten restrictions on China's Huawei Technologies Co
HWT.UL , aimed at cracking down on its access to commercially
available chips.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS gained 0.19%, to sit not far short of its
pre-pandemic late January high.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 dipped 0.52%, while most markets
traded in a narrow band with Chinese blue chips .CSI300
dropping 0.25%. The Australian benchmark index .AXJO rose
0.12%.
E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 were flat.
The Nasdaq surged to a record high close on Monday and the
S&P 500 approached its own record level, with both indexes
lifted by technology stocks.
"We saw some strength in tech again with semiconductors
driving the boat," Thomas Hayes, chairman at Great Hill Capital
said of the U.S. rally.
The U.S. dollar =USD softened against most currencies
after disappointing manufacturing and mortgage data,
Commonwealth Bank of Australia analyst Joseph Capurso wrote in a
note.
But moves were small ahead of Wednesday's release of the
Federal Reserve minutes, with speculation that the Fed will
adopt an average inflation target, which would seek to push
inflation above 2% for some time.
Bitcoin BTC hovered near the 13 month high it hit on
Monday.
On the commodities front, oil prices edged lower on Tuesday,
but still mostly held onto overnight gains after OPEC+ said the
producer grouping was almost fully complying with output cuts.
Brent crude LCOc1 was down 6 cents, or 0.1%, at $45.31 a
barrel, after gaining 1.3% on Monday. U.S. crude CLc1 was down
0.2%, at $42.81 a barrel, having risen 2.1% in the previous
session
Safe haven gold closed higher after Berkshire Hathaway also
disclosed a stake in Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO ,
one of the world's largest mining companies.
Spot gold XAU= added 0.4% to $1,995 an ounce.
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Global assets http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl
Global currencies vs. dollar http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
Emerging markets http://tmsnrt.rs/2ihRugV
MSCI All Country Wolrd Index Market Cap http://tmsnrt.rs/2EmTD6j
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