Asian stocks find modest support on firmer US futures

Gold, which is bought as a safe haven during times of economic uncertainty, traded close to a six-year high.

"Bonds are rallying and there is limited upside for stocks right now," said Kiyoshi Ishigane, chief fund manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co in Tokyo.

"But I don't want to give up on equities just yet. The US Federal Reserve and officials in other countries simply have to do more to stimulate their economies, which will eventually prevent the bottom from falling out."

US stock futures were 0.14 percent higher, which helped ease investors' nerves in Asian trading, but there were still plenty of reasons to be concerned.

Investors will focus on how Chinese shares open after China late on Tuesday unveiled measures to boost consumption.

A trade dispute between the United States and China is now in its second year and is placing increasing strain on the global economy, forcing policymakers to respond with interest rate cuts and stimulus measures to bolster growth.

A bond yield curve inverts when long-term yields trade below short-term yields and is commonly considered a signal of an impending economic recession.

The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasuries stood at 1.4744 percent, compared with the two-year yield of 1.5159 percent. The yield curve inversion is the deepest since May 2007, when the US subprime financial crisis started to unfold.

Yields on 30-year Treasuries stood at 1.9554 percent, below 3-month T-bill yields of 1.9951 percent, which some traders say is an even more bearish signal.

Spot gold was unchanged in Asia at $1,542.25 per ounce, but still close to a six-year high.

The dollar was little changed at 105.67 yen after falling 0.3 percent on Tuesday.

Investors are also focused on Sept. 1, when the first stage of US tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods is scheduled to go into effect. In response, China has unveiled tariffs on US products set to go into effect the same day.

US crude ticked up 1.17 percent to $55.57 a barrel, supported by expectations of a drawdown in US crude inventories.