* Asian shares, Japan's Nikkei flat in early trade
* Hopes of progress in U.S.-China talks buoy mood
* Palladium hits record high, gold near 10-month peak
* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
By Swati Pandey and Hideyuki Sano
SYDNEY/TOKYO, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Asian shares hovered near four-month highs on Tuesday as investors took heart from some progress in Sino-U.S. trade talks, while the yen slipped as the Japanese central bank said it won't rule out further policy easing.
Spreadbetters pointed to a positive start for Europe while E-mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 and the Dow 1YMc1 were a shade weaker.
In Asia, Japan's Nikkei .N225 nudged up 0.2 percent after holding flat for most of the day. Australian shares climbed 0.3 percent to a 4-1/2 month peak, after gaining over 8 percent so far this year partly on expectations the central bank could ease policy to temper pressure on growth. shares skidded into the red after surging in the previous session, with the blue-chip index .CSI300 off 0.4 percent.
That left MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS down 0.1 percent, but still close to four-month highs reached last Wednesday.
Trade talks dominated headlines with a new round of negotiations between the United States and China expected in Washington on Tuesday, and follow-up sessions at a higher level later in the week. of progress in the talks have kindled hopes among investors that the two countries can reach a compromise in their trade war by a March 1 deadline, although few details from the talks have emerged.
President Donald Trump said last week he might extend the March 1 deadline, which would stop an immediate increase in tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports to 25 percent from 10 percent. changing sentiment, Chinese shares have risen rapidly so far this month, with MSCI's China A shares index .MICNA0000PUS up 6.5 percent, by far the best performance among major markets despite China's weakening economy.
Additionally, investors are now seen returning to riskier asset markets after the U.S. Federal Reserve signalled earlier this year it could halt rate hikes in light of U.S. economic softness.
Comments from European Central Bank's Olli Rehn on Sunday have fanned speculation the ECB would launch another round of Targeted Long-Term Refinancing Operations (TLTRO) to support bank lending.
And, the Bank of Japan on Tuesday said it was ready to ramp up stimulus if sharp yen rises hurt the economy and derail the path towards achieving its inflation target. remarks sent the dollar slightly higher versus the yen JPY= . It was last at 110.60 yen after dipping as low as 110.45 earlier in the day.
"In the last week, it seems like global central banks have started a possible process of monetary easing," Bank of America-Merrill Lynch strategist Ajay Singh Kapur said in a note.
"If so, this would be very positive for Asia/EM stocks," Kapur added.
"Central bank balance sheets are the most important driver of stock prices, in our view, by lowering risk premia, and cutting off deflation risk."
In currency markets, the euro was 0.1 percent weaker at $1.1295, not far from Friday's three-month low of $1.1234, largely on a run of soft European economic data including Germany's GDP figures.
Most other currencies were stuck in familiar ranges.
Sterling was 0.2 percent weaker at $1.2899 GBP=D4 , with an eye on Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union, while the Australian dollar AUD=D3 held at $0.7112.
The precious metals market was slightly more lively, with palladium XPD= surging to a record high of $1,471.0 per ounce as stricter emissions standards are seen increasing demand for the autocatalyst metal. GOL/
Gold held around $1,323.66 per ounce after earlier rising to a near 10-month high of $1,327.64 XAU= .
Oil prices were mixed, with Brent futures LCOc1 off 29 cents at $66.21, not far from Monday's $66.83 which was the highest since mid-November.
U.S. crude futures CLc1 added 21 cents to $55.8. (Editing by Kim Coghill & Shri Navaratnam)