* MSCI Asia ex-Japan -0.09% * Brent crude barely higher after U.S. strikes in Syria, Iraq * Gold continues push higher * Asian stock markets: tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4 By Andrew Galbraith SHANGHAI, Dec 30 (Reuters) – A broad gauge of Asian share markets fell on Monday as investors consolidated gains after scaling 18-month highs last week, while oil was steady after the U.S. carried out air strikes on an Iranian-backed Shi’ite Muslim militia group in Iraq and Syria. Around 0145 GMT, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was 0.09% lower. The index had touched its highest level since June 19, 2018 on Friday, lifted by investor hopes that a U.S.-China trade deal would be signed soon. Chinese blue chips were 0.15% lower, while Australian shares shed 0.56%. Japan’s Nikkei stock index slid 0.51%. Easing trade war worries and reduced uncertainty over the United Kingdom’s plans to leave the European Union after British elections returned a strong Conservative majority have offered a lift to global equities this month, helping the broad MSCI Asia index rise more than 6% and putting it on track for its strongest month since January. Kay Van-Petersen, global macro strategist at Saxo Capital Markets, said that limited… Read full this story
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