(Updates prices throughout)
* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Australian shares rise 0.5%, NZ shares up 0.2%
* E-Mini futures for S&P 500 up 0.5%
* Risk-sensitive Aussie firms, dollar up on yen
* Oil gains after sell-off on Friday, gold nudges lower
By Swati Pandey
SYDNEY, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Asian shares started higher onMonday on hopes of an interim Sino-U.S. tariff deal after thetwo countries described their talks as "productive" and"constructive", while oil gained more than 1% as Middle Easttensions remained elevated.
Australian shares added 0.4% while New Zealand'sbenchmark index was 0.2% higher. South Korea's Kospiwas a touch weaker after disappointing trade data, whileJapan's Nikkei was closed for a holiday.
That left MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific sharesoutside Japan up 0.5% at 511.28 points. It is up3.4% so far in September.
The E-mini futures for U.S. S&P 500 climbed 0.5%while Dow minis were up 0.46%.
The gains come after the U.S. Trade Representative's officeissued a brief statement characterising the two days of talkswith China as "productive." It added that a principal-leveltrade meeting in Washington would take place in October, aspreviously planned.
China's Commerce Ministry, in a brief statement, describedthe talks as "constructive", and said they had also had a gooddiscussion on "detailed arrangements" for the high-level talksin October.
Additionally, the United States removed tariffs from morethan 400 Chinese products in response to requests from U.S.companies.
"The two nations have continued to hold constructive talks.That's helped the sentiment but the markets still remainunconvinced," said Rodrigo Catril, senior forex strategist atNational Australia Bank in Sydney.
Investors were still a bit jittery as news broke on Fridaythat Chinese officials unexpectedly cancelled a visit to U.S.farms next week following their two days of negotiations inWashington.
That led to losses in Wall Street on Friday with the Dowclosing 0.6% lower, the S&P500 0.5% down and Nasdaqoff 0.8%.
"Trade tensions are likely to wax and wane ahead ofU.S.-China October negotiations," Citi analyst Cesar Rojas saidin a note.
"Despite recent signs of a moderation in the pace of tradetensions escalation ahead of the October face-to-facenegotiations, we continue expect U.S.-China trade tensions tocontinue."
Later in the day, September manufacturing activity surveysare due from the United States and European Union which will beclosely watched for any signs of a rebound.
Action in currency markets was muted.
The dollar gained 0.1% against the safe haven Japanese yento 107.74 after easing 0.5% last week. The risk-sensitiveAustralian dollar was up 0.15% at $0.6773.
The euro was mostly flat as was the British pound. That left the dollar index unchanged at 98.494.
In commodities, Brent crude futures jumped 1.12%, or72 cents, to $65 a barrel, while U.S. crude futuresescalated 1.19%, or 69 cents, to $58.78 a barrel.
The Pentagon has ordered additional troops to be deployed inthe Gulf region to strengthen Saudi Arabia's air and missiledefences following an attack on Saudi oil facilities.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday theadditional troops are for "deterrence and defence" andWashington aimed to avoid war with Iran.
With markets calmer since the Sept. 14 attacks on SaudiArabian refineries, gold pulled back slightly.
Spot gold was off 0.25% at $1,512.8 an ounce.
(Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Lincoln Feast)