Asia stocks edge up on easing Syria tensions; focus on earnings, China GDP

Asia stocks edged higher on Tuesday, tracking Wall Street gains as the focus shifted to corporate earnings and looming economic data from China amid signs Western-led strikes on Syria weren't likely to escalate.

The dollar pulled back along with safe-haven U.S. Treasuries as investor risk appetite improved in the broader markets.

The near-term focal point was on China's gross domestic product data due at 0200 GMT.

The world's second biggest economy was expected to have carried most of its strong momentum from last year into the first quarter of 2018, after growing 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter.

While Saturday's missile strikes were the biggest intervention by Western countries against Syria, investor risk appetite in the broader markets improved on speculation that the attacks would not lead to prolonged conflict.

China shares slip on uncertainty over unlimited rule for Xi Jinping

Chinese stocks slipped today despite gains in most other world markets as uncertainty lingered over the removal of term limits for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Shanghai Composite sank 1.1 per cent to close at 3,292.07, while Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index lost 0.7 per cent to finish at 31,268.66.

Benchmarks elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region were mixed, with Australia's S&P/ASX 200 and Japan's Nikkei 225 ending higher but South Korea's Kospi slightly lower.

European shares rose in early trading but futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street, a day after the Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones industrial average and Nasdaq gained more than 1 per cent.
Investors are still mulling the implications of the decision by China's Communist Party to scrap presidential term limits, ensuring party chief Xi Jinping can remain head of state indefinitely and setting the stage for him to become the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong.