SYDNEY/NEW YORK (Feb 20): Asian stocks looked set to climb after strong earnings sentiment helped boost U.S. equities, while lingering trade concerns lifted Treasuries. The yuan rose amid a report the U.S. is asking China to keep its currency stable as part of the negotiations.

Futures on equity indexes in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia all signaled gains when Wednesday trading begins. The S&P 500 Index rose after profit at Walmart Inc. lifted retailers and home builders got a push from higher housing activity. Still,
worries remain that the trade truce will end March 1 without a deal, leading to fresh tariffs.

The U.S.’s stance on China’s yuan is aimed at neutralizing any effort by Beijing to devalue its currency to counter American tariffs, people familiar with the ongoing talks said.

That adds another layer to complex negotiations between the two camps in Washington that are scheduled to run through Friday. With earnings season nearing its end, the latest minutes from both the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank due this
week and U.S. President Donald Trump weighing an extension of the deadline for a trade deal with China, investors have plenty to ponder as the outlook for global growth hangs over everything.

Elsewhere, the pound advanced as U.K. and European officials work on a new legal text for the contentious Irish border backstop. Gold traded at the highest since May amid increasing bullishness and West Texas crude oil advanced near
its highest in almost three months.

Here are some key events coming up:

* The Federal Reserve will on Wednesday publish minutes from its recent meeting, with the European Central Bank following suit on Thursday.

* Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz speaks on Thursday; ECB President Mario Draghi speaks on Friday, the same day Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe gives parliamentary testimony.

* An Indonesian rate decision is due Thursday.

These are the main moves in markets:

Stocks

* Futures on Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 0.4 percent in Singapore. 

* Hang Seng Index futures earlier gained 0.6 percent. 

* Futures on Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index added 0.2 percent. 

* The S&P 500 Index rose 0.2 percent on Tuesday.

Currencies

* The yen held at 110.58 per dollar. 

* The offshore yuan rose 0.4 percent to 6.7454 per dollar. 

* The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 0.3 percent.

* The euro rose 0.3 percent to $1.1341.

* The British pound rose 1.1 percent to $1.3064.

Bonds

* The yield on 10-year Treasuries fell three basis points to 2.63 percent.

Commodities

* The Bloomberg Commodity Index climbed 0.4 percent on Tuesday.

* West Texas crude rose 0.9 percent to $56.07 a barrel.

* Gold gained 1.1 percent to $1,341.15 an ounce.