GLOBAL MARKETS-U.S.-China trade optimism lifts stocks, dollar shrugs

* Stocks climb as China revives trade deal optimism
* Dollar flat, euro shrugs as another German quits the ECB
* Bond yields tick higher as risk appetite builds
* More central banks cut rates but NZ says no need for QE
* World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4

By Marc Jones
LONDON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Positive noises from China on
U.S. trade talks lifted European stocks on Thursday and snuffed
out a modest rally in safe-haven assets that had dominated in
Asia.
Europe's main bourses .STOXX had initially stuttered but
muscled 0.5% higher when China said it was in close
communication with Washington and preparing to make progress in
upcoming trade talks. U.S. President Donald Trump had also stoked hopes when he
told reporters the two sides were having "good conversations"
and that an agreement "could happen sooner than you think".
Investors top-sliced some of their European government bond
holdings in response, as the third German resignation from the
European Central Bank's board in recent years overnight also
amplified doubts around the sustainability its stimulus
measures.
But it was nothing too dramatic. Ten-year yields were up no
more that 2 basis point across the region DE10YT=RR ,
FR10YT=RR , NL10YT=RR and the major currencies barely budged
too, having now got used to the constant tooing and froing of
the year-long trade war.
Just on Tuesday, Trump had sharply criticised China in a
speech at the United Nations General Assembly, where he said he
would not accept a "bad deal".
"I think the trade talks will take years if it ever has a
solution," Makor Capital Markets strategist, Stéphane Barbier de
la Serre, said.
"To me, what we see (today) is just market expectations, it
is purely micro management of the market, nothing else. We have
nearing a point where nobody cares about the discussions."
The sidewinding dollar was still well within reach of a
2-year high having also shrugged off the latest controversy
surrounding Trump.
Transcripts of a call showed he had nudged Ukraine's
president for possible information on presidential rival Joe
Biden. Traders however remained sceptical about the likelihood
of Trump being officially impeached.
The biggest currency rise of the day meanwhile was New
Zealand dollar, which climbed 0.5% NZD=D3 to $0.6305 after the
head of the country's central bank said it was unlikely to need
unconventional stimulus measures. Elsewhere in the region the Philippines joined the army of
global central banks which have cut interest rates this month,
with a 25 basis point trim to 4% Mexico could slice
its 8% rates but a similar amount later too.
Overnight, the rest Asia had struggled for clear direction.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS and Japan's Nikkei .N225 both ended
fractionally higher after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and
Trump signed a limited trade deal on Wednesday But major China tech stocks .CSIINT slumped more than 3%
for the second day running, Australian shares .AXJO fell 0.5%
and gold tiptoed higher in a sign that some investors were still
searching out safety.
Oil prices CLc1 swung in and out of the red meanwhile with
Brent fetching $62.52 per barrel and U.S. crude at $56.50 a
barrel. O/R

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