By David Hodari 

Global stocks pared some of their recent losses Tuesday, although persistent geopolitical fears and softening economic data made for choppy trading in Asia.

The Stoxx Europe 600 was up 0.5% in early trading, while Japan's Nikkei index climbed 1.3%, after a 1.9% fall on Monday.

Chinese stocks took a fresh hit, with the Shanghai Composite down 0.9% and the Shenzhen A Share down 1.9% amid fresh fears about growth. The country's consumer-price index hit a seven-month high Tuesday, and Golden Week real estate and auto sales figures sharply dropped from the same time last year.

Gains in European stocks were driven by a 1.3% increase for Italy's FTSE MIB index. Italy's populist-led government is sticking to a deficit target that will bring it into conflict with the European Union, but reports on Tuesday said Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared the country's membership of the EU as "unrenounceable."

The yield on two-year Italian bonds fell to 1.34% from around 1.48% late Monday. Yields move inversely to prices.

In the U.S., futures pointed to 0.3% opening gains for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, respectively.

U.S. stocks sold off late Monday, led by growth stocks such as technology companies. The S&P 500 closed down 0.59% and has been down for seven of the last eight trading days.

In recent weeks investors have been concerned over rising bond yields, fractious global trade relations and global economic growth.

While investors have for some months been aware of those issues, a lack of fresh information in the run-up to earnings season has exacerbated their effects, said Frances Hudson, a global strategist in Edinburgh at Aberdeen Standard Investments.

"The U.S. is holding up reasonably well in terms of economic data but you're not getting much information from companies getting into earnings season. With a lack of information, you're left with feelings to inform trading," Ms. Hudson said.

Investors will remain focused on the U.S. economy, with the Treasury Department's semiannual currency report due out later Tuesday. The report, and any accompanying statements by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, will be parsed for any signs that the U.S. deems China a currency manipulator.

The WSJ Dollar Index -- which measures the U.S. currency against a basket of 16 others -- was last up 0.1%.

In commodities, Brent crude oil was down 0.6% at $80.33 a barrel and gold was up 0.2% at $1,229.66 a troy ounce.

Write to David Hodari at David.Hodari@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 16, 2018 05:38 ET (09:38 GMT)

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