Asia stocks edge up as US trade deals in focus

Asian equities edged higher on Wednesday, with risk appetite contained by elevated bond yields as investors remained nervous about the fiscal outlook of major developed economies and the lack of progress on fresh trade deals. Crude prices rose more than $US1 ($A1.60) a barrel after a CNN report said Israel was preparing a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, raising supply concerns out of the key Middle East producing region and bringing geopolitical concerns back into focus. All eyes are also on the Japanese bond markets, a day after yields on super-long tenors surged to record highs on worries about demand…