* 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 Hideyuki Sano and Swati Pandey
TOKYO/SYDNEY, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Asian shares hovered near four-month highs on Tuesday, supported by hopes that Sino-U.S. trade talks were making progress and expectations of policy stimulus from central banks.
Investor confidence was bolstered by mild gains in European stocks .STOXX as U.S. markets were shut on Monday for a public holiday.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was a shade firmer, while Japan's Nikkei .N225 was almost flat.
Chinese shares were little changed, too, with the blue-chip index .CSI300 up 0.1 percent after surging in the previous session.
Reports of progress in trade talks between the United States and China have prompted investors to be mildly optimistic that the two countries can reach a compromise by March 1 that will de-escalate their dispute or at least avoid a sharp hike in tariffs, although few details from the talks have emerged.
A new round of talks between the United States and China to resolve their trade war will take place in Washington on Tuesday, with follow-up sessions at a higher level later in the week, the White House said on Monday. 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.
"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 and other risk-sensitive currencies remained underpinned by hopes on U.S.-China trade talks though most currencies were stuck in familiar ranges.
The euro changed hands at $1.1304 EUR= , off Friday's three-month low of $1.1234.
A run of soft European economic data, including Germany's GDP figures, has weighed on the common currency.
Comments from European Central Bank's Olli Rehn on Sunday have fanned speculation the European Central Bank would launch another round of Targeted Long-Term Refinancing Operations (TLTRO) to support bank lending.
The dollar stood at 110.49 yen JPY= , stepping back from Thursday's seven-week peak of 111.13.
Sterling was slightly weaker at $1.2905 GBP=D4 , with an eye on Brexit talks between Britain and the European Union.
The precious metals market was slightly more lively, with palladium XPD= surging to a record high of $1,462.5 per ounce as stricter emissions standards are seen increasing demand for the autocatalyst metal. GOL/
Gold held around $1,325 per ounce after earlier rising to a near 10-month high of $1,327.40 XAU= .
Oil prices were mixed, with Brent futures LCOc1 off 40 cents at $66.10, not far from Monday's $66.83 which was the highest since mid-November.
U.S. crude futures CLc1 added 12 cents to $55.71. (Editing by Sam Holmes & Kim Coghill)