* U.S. stocks extend gains as U.S. stimulus talks progress
* Tokyo untraded due to system glitch, China on holiday
* Uncertainties over U.S. election cloud outlook
* European stocks seen steady to slightly higher
* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4 (Adds TSE says share trading will be halted all day)
By Hideyuki Sano
TOKYO, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Global shares tried to extend gains on Thursday on renewed hopes for fresh U.S. stimulus measures, but mounting uncertainty ahead of America's presidential election and technical glitches in Japan's market kept gains in check.
S&P500 futures ESc1 rose 0.4% in Asia, extending Wall Street shares' rebound overnight after strong employment data and talk of progress on long-delayed COVID-19 relief legislation. .N
European stocks were seen steady to firmer, with pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 futures STXEc1 up 0.09%, German DAX futures FDXc1 almost flat and Britain's FTSE futures FFIc1 adding 0.24%.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was up 0.5%, with Australian shares .AXJO rising 1.1% and Indian shares .BSESN adding 1.5%.
But regional trade was thinned by problems at the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) and holidays in Greater China and South Korea.
The TSE suspended share trading for the full day as a glitch in its electronic trading system caused the worst outage ever suffered by the world's third-largest stock market. It is not clear when trading will resume. regional bourses in Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo were also forced to suspend trade because they also use the TSE's system.
But derivatives trading in Osaka was unaffected, with Nikkei futures JNIc1 rising 0.2%.
On Wednesday, the S&P500 .SPX gained 0.83% and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 0.74%, even though they wrapped up September with their first monthly declines since March, when mandated coronavirus shutdowns slammed the economy.
A spate of economic data mostly surprised to the upside, with the ADP (NASDAQ:ADP) National Employment index blowing past analysts' expectations and pending home sales surging to an all-time high. U.S. data is surprisingly strong, so that underpins the market. But I don't expect a clear-cut trend in markets until we see the outcome of the U.S. election," said Hirokazu Kabeya, chief global strategist at Daiwa Securities.
Also helping to boost risk appetite, U.S. House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin both expressed hope for a breakthrough in partisan stimulus negotiations. about coronavirus vaccine developments also underpinned market sentiment, helping to counter concerns about rising COVID-19 infections in Europe, said Tomo Kinoshita, global market strategist at Invesco Asset Management.
But many market participants remained cautious after Tuesday's chaotic presidential debate, which heightened fears that a disputed ballot on Nov. 3 could lead to a long and messy transfer of power. Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden talked over each other and traded insults as they sparred over the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare and the economy. investors may be pulling back from the U.S. as the election approaches and the political dysfunction in Washington is laid bare," said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer with Independent Advisor Alliance in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"But they also need to take into consideration that a weaker U.S. economy could presage a weaker global economy, which may drive investors to safe-haven assets" later in 2020, he added.
In the currency market, the robust U.S. data and stimulus hopes helped to push down the U.S. dollar against riskier currencies.
The euro rose 0.2% to $1.1745 EUR= while the Australian dollar ticked up 0.2% to $0.7181 AUD=D4 .
The offshore Chinese yuan gained 0.5% to 6.7493 per dollar CNH=D4 in thin liquidity due to the holiday in mainland China and Hong Kong, while the yen was little moved at 105.50 to the dollar JPY= .
In commodities, oil prices were flat, with U.S. crude futures at $40.21 per barrel CLc1 and Brent futures at $42.33 a barrel LCOc1 .