The pan-European Stoxx 600 was slightly above the flatline with majority of sectors trading in positive territory. Oil and gas led the gains, up by more than half of a percent, following news that U.S. oil exports to Japan and South Korea will reach record highs this month.
Market players were digesting news that the White House is preparing a second meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
• Asian shares were struggling to avoid a ninth straight session of losses on Tuesday as the specter of a further escalation in the Sino-U.S. trade war haunted investors, while the pound perched at a five-week top on hints a Brexit deal might be nearer.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.05 percent, but did hold above lows last visited in July last year.
• Japanese stocks had their best day in four weeks on Tuesday, with exporters lifted by the yen’s weakening against the dollar and technology shares boosted by gains for Wall Street counterparts.
The Nikkei share average ended the day 1.3 percent higher at 22,664.69. The percentage gain was the biggest day since Aug. 14 and the close was the highest since Sept 4.
• China’s Shanghai Composite index shed early gains to end at its weakest close in 31 months on Tuesday as investors took a cautious stance awaiting developments in international trade disputes.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was down 4.69 points or 0.2 percent at 2,669.48. It was the lowest close for the index since Jan 28, 2016. Earlier in the session, the index hit an intraday low of 2,652.70, its lowest level since Feb. 29, 2016.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC