Jan 2 (Reuters) - Asian shares gained for the fourth successive month in December as appetite for regional shares improved after the U.S. and China agreed on a preliminary deal to end their 17-month long trade war.
The MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares .MIAP00000PUS gained 4.2% in December, compared with the month's gains of about 3.4% for the MSCI's global share index .MIWD00000PUS .
The United States and China agreed on a deal on Dec. 13 that reduces some U.S. tariffs in exchange for what U.S. officials said would be a big jump in Chinese purchases of American farm products and other goods. The deal is expected to be signed on Jan 15. shares however, lagged behind global shares in the year and in the last decade.
The MSCI's Asia-Pacific Index gained about 16% in 2019 compared with 24% for the World index.
New Zealand shares .NZ50 lead both 2019 and last decade's gains in the region. In U.S. dollar terms, local shares gained 30.8% in 2019 and 231% in the last decade.
https://tmsnrt.rs/2MIJvaC Asia-Pacific equities performance in 2019
https://tmsnrt.rs/39uScz6 Asia-Pacific equities performance in last decade
https://tmsnrt.rs/2SFEIuw
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