* European shares, U.S. stock futures higher
* Optimistic comments on trade lift sentiment for now
* Japan's Nikkei touches more than three-month low
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh (Updates market action, adds comment, ZEW survey)
By Dhara Ranasinghe
LONDON, May 14 (Reuters) - World stocks held near two-month lows on Tuesday as slightly more optimistic comments from U.S. and Chinese officials on trade brought some comfort, a day after equities suffered their worst selloff so far this year.
Fear the United States and China are spiraling into a fiercer, more protracted trade dispute that could derail the global economy has rattled investors in recent weeks. The sell-off accelerated on Monday after China announced plans for retaliatory tariffs the Chinese government's top diplomat said China and the United States have the "ability and wisdom" to reach a trade deal that is good for both. U.S. President Donald Trump said he was optimistic about resolving the trade dispute. signals were enough for now to provide respite to battered markets.
European shares rebounded from two-month lows with London .FTSE , Frankfurt .GDAXI and Paris .FCHI 0.5% to 1% higher. And having tumbled more than 2% on Monday, U.S. stock futures suggested Wall Street shares were headed for a stronger open 1YMc1 ESc1 .
"The trade war is driving markets at the moment," said Rory McPherson, head of investment strategy at Psigma Investment Management in London.
"Markets were prone to a selloff after a good start to the year on expectations of policy easing from central banks and no escalation of trade tensions, and it's this latter pillar that has come away."
Asian shares opened weaker but closed off the lows, thanks to the more upbeat official tone.
Japan's Nikkei stock index .N225 fell to its lowest since mid-February. MSCI's index of Asian shares, excluding Japan, lost 1%, dragged to three-month lows by a selloff in China .CSI300 .MIAPJ0000PUS .
MSCI's world index .MIWD00000PUS was stuck near its lowest levels in around two months.
Markus Huber, a trader at City of London Markets, said he expected a deal that would allow both sides to save face.
"However, I think traders might underestimate the consequences if there is no deal and furthermore, tough trade negotiations between the U.S. and the EU are still to follow later this year, which could spell new turmoil for stocks."
Trump has said he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a G20 meeting at the end of June.
Investors' trade war fears have clearly intensified - Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Merrill Lynch's monthly survey showed equity allocations falling sharply in May and a record number of funds saying they were hedged against a sharp stock market fall.
The number of participants who identified trade war as the main risk for markets rose as well In another sign trade tensions are hurting the economic outlook, Germany's ZEW institute said investors' mood had deteriorated unexpectedly in May.
Yields on 10-year German government bonds headed back towards Monday's six-week lows DE10YT=RR after the ZEW data.
U.S. 10-year Treasury yields US10YT=RR , however, edged away from Monday's six-week lows, thanks to the slightly brighter tone. They rose back above shorter-dated three-month bill yields after the yield curve inverted on Monday for the second time in less than a week US3MT=RR .
That move underscored worries about the economic impact of a trade war -- a sustained inversion of that part of the yield curve has preceded every U.S. recession in the past 50 years.
The safe-haven yen lost ground as the mood improved, with the dollar strengthening 0.4% against the Japanese currency to 109.67 JPY= . China's yuan and the Australian dollar also regained some poise, with the former breaking a six-day losing streak CNH=EBS .
Elsewhere, oil prices rose with Brent crude LCOc1 up around 1% at $71 per barrel. Gold prices slipped 0.25% to $1.296,44 per ounce XAU= .