* Italy relief lifts European stocks
* China stocks enjoy best day in three years
* Market awaiting rush of U.S. earnings reports
* Sterling slips before British PM May's speech
By Karin Strohecker and Tom Wilson
LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - European shares crept higher on Monday on relief over Italy's budget, tracking rallies in Asia markets after China promised to provide stimulus to stabilise its economy and offset the impact of U.S. tariffs.
Promises of tax cuts and coordinated official statements of support for stock markets in the world's second-largest economy saw Chinese shares stage their biggest one-day surge in three years L3N1X21FI . Shanghai blue chips .CSI300 jumped around 4.3 percent, adding to Friday's bounce on Beijing's pledge of support for the economy and companies.
Japan's Nikkei .N225 rose 0.4 percent. Markets elsewhere in Asia also enjoyed healthy gains. .HSI .MIAPJ0000PUS .TWII .
European stocks .STOXX climbed 0.2 percent after Moody's kept Italy's sovereign rating stable on Friday instead of cutting it to negative. The decision fuelled a rally in Italian government bonds and boosted shares in the country's banks. Moody's report and China's verbal support for its economy helped markets look beyond worries over the impact on global growth from policy tightening by the Federal reserve and the U.S.-China trade war, market participants said.
"It looks like the Chinese authorities will do what they can to stem the negative effects of those factors," said Investec economist Victoria Clarke.
The mood was set to travel to U.S. markets, where E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 ESc1 were 0.1 percent higher. Nasdaq's NQc1 added 0.4 percent.
This week is the peak period of the U.S. earnings season, with Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) among the companies reporting by a strong economy and deep corporate tax cuts, S&P 500 earnings per share are expected to grow 22 percent in the third quarter, according to I/B/E/S data from Refinitiv.
"The season on an absolute basis will likely wind up being 'strong' and the vast majority of companies will exceed consensus expectations," said analysts at JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) in a note.
"However, headwinds are building at the margin in the form of U.S. dollar strength, supply chain disruptions owing to all the trade uncertainty, and rising costs. Even the mere hint of a turn in profit fundamentals would have severe ramifications."
The outlook for global growth in 2019 has dimmed for the first time, according to Reuters polls of economists, who cautioned that the U.S.-China trade war and tightening financial conditions would trigger the next downturn. RELIEF
On currency markets, the euro EUR= rallied after the Moody's report before pairing gains. By late morning it was down 0.1 percent at $1.15.
The single currency has benefited from comments by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio, who reiterated the country does not intend to leave the euro.
Bond yields dropped across the curve, with 10-year yields enjoying their biggest one-day drop since the June. later in the day, Italy must explain to the European Commission its breach of rules. It faces the rejection of its budget, a move that could lead to sanctions. government expects the commission to decide on Tuesday to ask a member state to revise its draft budget, for the first time ever, a government source said on Sunday.
Italy is also expected to be on the agenda when the European Central Bank meets on Thursday. The bank is considered certain to keep policy on hold and is likely to put off discussion about its reinvestment policy until December dollar was up 0.1 percent against a basket of currencies at 95.796 .DXY USD/
Sterling, meanwhile, slipped 0.4 percent to $1.3022 GBP= as Brexit worries rose ahead of a speech to Britain's parliament by Prime Minister Theresa May. May will tell parliament that 95 percent of Britain's divorce deal has been agreed, she will repeat her opposition to the European Union's proposal for the land border with Northern Ireland. border issue scuppered efforts to reach a Brexit deal at last week's EU summit, and many see the risk of a challenge to her leadership being mounted.
Saudi Arabia also remained in the spotlight after Riyadh called the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi a "huge and grave mistake" but sought to shield its powerful crown prince from the crisis. President Donald Trump and European leaders are pushing Saudi Arabia for more answers.
In commodity markets, Brent crude futures LCOc1 edged above $80 per barrel, with U.S. sanctions against Iran's crude exports due to be implemented next month. O/N
Gold prices edged higher towards the 2 1/2-month peak hit last week XAU= Asia-Pacific valuations
https://tmsnrt.rs/2Dr2BQA MSCI, Shanghai Indexes
https://tmsnrt.rs/2OGOOuu
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