TOKYO (Reuters) - Stocks slipped in Asian trade on Wednesday as investors awaited the signing of an initial U.S.-China trade deal, with sentiment somewhat dented by comments from the U.S. Treasury Secretary that tariffs would remain in place for now.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s exports rose for the first time in five months in December and by more than expected, signaling a modest recovery in demand as Beijing and Washington agreed to defuse their prolonged trade war.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s exports in December rose 7.6% from a year earlier, customs data showed on Tuesday, signaling a modest recovery in demand as a preliminary trade deal with the United States raised hopes that a prolonged tariff war will be de-escalated.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday as investors focused on the signing of a preliminary trade deal between the United States and China, the world’s top oil consumers, and on expectations of a drawdown in U.S. crude oil inventories.

SHANGHAI, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The yuan strengthened past 6.88 per dollar early on Tuesday after the U.S. Treasury Department dropped its designation of China as a currency manipulator, days before Beijing and Washington are to sign a partial trade deal.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday as receding Middle East tensions took some heat out of the market, with both Tehran and Washington desisting from any further escalation after this month’s clashes.