HONG KONG, China – Asian markets rallied Monday after China and the United States (US) said they were close to agreeing a mini trade deal, but the pound extended losses on fresh Brexit uncertainty while European Union (EU) leaders consider extending a deadline for Britain to leave the bloc.
Investors tracked a strong lead from Wall Street, where the S&P 500 flirted with another record, after the US Trade Representative’s office said the top-level negotiators had held talks Friday and were “close to finalizing” an agreement.
And the Chinese Commerce Ministry said both sides agreed to “properly address each other’s core concerns,” fueling hopes the economic superpowers are on course to a resolution to their long-running and painful tariffs spat.
The two are aiming to get the pact ready to be signed by Donald Trump and Xi Jinping when they meet at next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Meeting in Chile.
Hong Kong rallied 0.7 percent in early trade and Shanghai was up 0.3 percent with gains tempered by data showing a drop in profits for China’s industrial giants last month. Tokyo ended the morning 0.3 percent higher and Seoul was up 0.4 percent.
Sydney, Taipei, Jakarta and Manila all put on 0.1 percent.
Eyes on Fed meeting
However, while the agreement would be a big positive for markets, analysts point out that it is still the first part of a wider deal that could take some time to complete.
And Ray Attrill at National Australia Bank said: “What’s not yet clear yet is if both sides have agreed that even if the planned Dec. 15 tariff increases won’t go ahead if phase one is agreed, whether there will be any wind back of the higher tariffs imposed on Sept. 1.”
That issue, he said, was “something China was said to be demanding toward the end of last week but we doubt the US is ready to concede on.”
Still, the mood on trading floors is positive and expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again at its latest policy meeting this week were also providing support.
Sterling edged down with focus on Westminster, where member of the parliaments (MPs) will vote later in the day on whether to grant Boris Johnson a Dec. 12 general election, which he has called for to break the Brexit deadlock.
With lawmakers refusing to pass his divorce deal before Thursday’s deadline, the prime minister wants a snap poll he hopes will give him a majority of MPs who will push it through parliament.
Also Monday, EU leaders will make a decision on whether to extend the deadline to the end of January and while expectations are for Britain to leave with a deal, Attrill added: “It’s hard to see how this renewed level of uncertainty can be anything other than negative for Sterling given the size of recent gains.” (Agence France-Presse)
