· European shares edged lower on Wednesday as concerns over a protracted U.S.-China trade war again worried investors, while a drop in the pound propped up London’s blue-chip index.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.1% by 0708 GMT with Germany’s DAX, traditionally sensitive to trade issues, down 0.2%.

· Asian stocks struggled for traction on Wednesday, as relief over Washington’s temporary relaxation of curbs against China’s Huawei Technologies failed to offset deeper worries about an intensifying trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

The Chinese markets, which have endured a volatile few months, were on a cautious note. The Shanghai Composite Index was last a fraction lower.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan moved in and out of the red and was last 0.1% higher.

“Some in the markets will continue to cling on to hopes of the United States and China reaching an agreement at the upcoming G20 meeting,” said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management.

“But the ongoing trade conflict looks to be a protracted one, and its potentially negative impact on various economies is becoming a running concern.”

Leaders from G20 nations are scheduled to gather for a summit in Japan at the end of June.

· Japan’s Nikkei edged up on Wednesday in an overall cautious market as data showed another drop in the nation’s exports for April, which offset a few positive signs for the economy.

Exporters and technology shares pared early gains and the Nikkei share average ended 0.1% higher at 21,283.37, after trading in a narrow range as sentiment remained fragile with no signs of de-escalation in the Sino-U.S. trade war.

Data earlier in the day showed Japan’s exports contracted for a fifth month in April, and though machinery orders unexpectedly rebounded the economic outlook suggested a difficult road ahead.

· China’s major stock indexes fell on Wednesday, as trade worries intensified following a report that the United States could blacklist another Chinese tech firm after banning Huawei Technologies last week.

The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.5%, to 3,649.38, while the Shanghai Composite Index also ended down 0.5% at 2,891.70.

Reference: Reuters, CNBC