* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* China GDP grows 6.4 pct, industrial output surges in March
* Nikkei edges up to highest since December
* NZ dollar, bond yields dive on soft inflation data
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, April 17 (Reuters) - Asian share markets pulled ahead on Wednesday as investors were relieved after a raft of Chinese data beat expectations in a sign Beijing's policy stimulus may finally be gaining traction in the world's second-largest economy.
Indications for Europe and Wall Street, however, suggested a mixed opening session. In early European trades, the pan-region Euro Stoxx 50 futures STXEc1 and German DAX futures FDXc1 were mostly unchanged while London's FTSE futures FFIc1 was a shade weaker. E-minis for the S&P 500 ESc1 added 0.1 percent.
Moves in Asian share markets were modest in part because they had already rallied hard since the start of the year.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 closed up 0.25 percent after hitting a five-month peak earlier in the day.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS gained 0.2 percent to near its highest since July. China blue chips .CSI300 rose slight to stay just below their best levels since March last year.
Investors have been counting on better news from China and were not disappointed with first-quarter economic growth pipping forecast at 6.4 percent.
Importantly industrial output surged 8.5 percent in March from a year earlier, the fastest pace since July 2014 and well above forecasts of a 5.9 percent increase. Retail sales also pleased with a rise of 8.7 percent. reacted by buying the Australian dollar, often a liquid proxy for China plays, which pushed up 0.3 percent to a two-month top at $0.7206. AUD=D3
"This suggests that policy measures introduced by Chinese officials last year are now bearing fruit," said Rodrigo Catril, a senior forex strategist at National Australia Bank.
"We had positive surprises on credit data and housing data last week and now GDP has come in better than expectations, which is building the case that a recovery is on the way," he added. "We see the revival of the Chinese economy as a necessary condition for an improvement in global growth outlook."
In currency markets, the greenback finally managed to top resistance on the yen at 112.13 to reach its highest since December at 112.16 JPY= . It was last at 111.96.
Against a basket of major currencies, the dollar was a tad weaker at 96.908 but still within the 95.00 to 97.70 range that has held for the past six months. .DXY
The euro edged up a touch to $1.1309 EUR= , recovering from losses driven by a Reuters report that several European Central Bank policymakers think the bank's economic projections are too optimistic. currency on the move was the New Zealand dollar NZD=D3 which sank as far as $0.6668 after annual consumer price inflation came in well below expectations at just 1.5 percent for the first quarter. L3N21Y4Y3
Yields on two-year bonds NZ2YT=RR dived 9 basis points to 1.48 percent as investors wagered the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) would have to cut rates in response.
The improved Chinese data later gave it a helping hand back up to $0.6744.
In commodity markets, the general improvement in risk sentiment saw spot gold slip to its lowest for the year so far. It was last up 0.2 percent at $1,279.25 per ounce XAU= .
Oil prices were buoyed as fighting in Libya and falling Venezuelan and Iranian exports raised concerns over tightening global supply. O/R
U.S. crude CLc1 was last up 48 cents at $64.53 a barrel, while Brent crude LCOc1 futures rose 34 cents to $72.06.
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