* MSCI Asia-Pacific index shade higher, Nikkei adds 0.25%
* Prospect of Fed, ECB easing support global equities
* Pound sags with eurosceptic Johnson seen becoming new UK PM
* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
By Shinichi Saoshiro
TOKYO, July 23 (Reuters) - Expectations of policy easing by major central banks such as the Federal Reserve propped up global stocks on Tuesday, while the pound sagged as Britain braced for a new prime minister who could pave the way for a no-deal exit from the European Union.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS inched up 0.02%.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 rose 0.25%.
Australian stocks .AXJO added 0.15% and South Korea's KOSPI .KS11 gained 0.2%.
The S&P 500 .SPX edged up towards a record high overnight, supported by expectations that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates at its July 30-31 policy meeting. .N
European stocks .STOXX had also nudged higher on Monday with the European Central Bank seen cutting rates by 10 basis points on Thursday.
But with central bank easing no longer a fresh theme, market gains were limited.
"The likelihood of easing by the Fed is supportive for equity markets, but the probability of a 25 basis point rate cut has already been factored in for the most part," said Soichiro Monji, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management.
In currency markets, the pound GBP=D4 was a touch lower at $1.2477 and headed for its third session of losses.
Sterling was under pressure due to the likelihood of eurosceptic Boris Johnson becoming Britain's next prime minister.
The result of Britain's weeks-long internal party election will be announced on Tuesday, with Johnson widely expected to have beaten foreign minister Jeremy Hunt. The winner will become prime minister on Wednesday. investors are worried Johnson could pull Britain out of the European Union on Oct. 31 without a trade deal in place in order to appease members of his Conservative Party.
Other major currencies were subdued ahead of the ECB and Fed meetings.
The dollar index .DXY against a basket of six major currencies inched up 0.05% to 97.314.
The euro was steady at $1.1207 EUR= and the dollar was nearly flat at 107.895 yen.
Crude oil prices slipped, losing momentum after two days of large gains generated by heightened tensions in the Middle East.
U.S. crude futures CLc1 were down 0.2% at $56.11 per barrel after gaining 0.1% overnight on concerns over possible supply disruptions after Iran's seizure of a British tanker late last week. O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 was flat at $63.26 after rising 1.2% the previous day.