European shares inch lower ahead of Sino-U.S. trade deal; fourth quarter earnings eyed

(Reuters) - European shares treaded water on Tuesday, as investors awaited the signing of an initial trade truce to end a prolonged U.S.-China tariff dispute, with attention also turning to the fourth-quarter corporate earnings season.The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.2% by 0812 GMT in its third straight day of declines.The Phase 1 Sino-U.S. trade deal, due to be signed in Washington on Wednesday, marks the first step in winding down the prolonged and damaging trade war. In further signs..