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Global stocks rise on US-China trade deal hopes
NEW YORK, April 4, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Global stock markets rose Wednesday on
optimism over US-China trade talks, while the pound gained on the dollar amid
hopes that British Prime Minister Theresa May’s new political gamble could
avert a messy “no deal” Brexit.
Market watchers cited rising hopes that Washington and Beijing were close
to finally sealing a trade agreement that averts higher tariffs.
“The momentum certainly seems to be continue to be on the upside,” said
Bill Lynch of Hinsdale Associates. “There’s more positive sentiment with
respect to a possible deal between the US and China.”
Analysts pointed to a report in The Financial Times that said the United
States and China had resolved most issues and that trade talks resuming
Wednesday in Washington could be “potentially climactic.”
“Clearly, the stock market continues to look at those negotiations with a
glass-is-half-full mentality,” said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O’Hare.
Leading bourses in Asia gained more than one percent, while Frankfurt and
Paris also posted solid gains.
The advance was more modest in London and Wall Street, with the latter
affected by lackluster reports on services sector activity and private-sector
hiring.
– Pound steadies –
Sterling won a boost after Conservative leader May declared late Tuesday
she would look for another Brexit delay and softened her position ahead of
Britain’s scheduled departure from the European Union next week.
After her deal and many other options failed to win the British
parliament’s approval, May changed tack by meeting with Britain’s opposition
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to find a compromise on Wednesday
“The announcement was win-win for the pound,” Oanda analyst Craig Erlam
told AFP.
“Not only did May re-affirm her opposition to no deal, she’s technically
opened the door to a softer Brexit. I say technically because a lot now has
to happen for that to be delivered, including the Conservatives and Labour
working together towards an uncharacteristic compromise.”
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However, he added: “If this fails, I struggle to see how she recovers; it
very much feels like a last-ditch, desperate gamble.”
Representatives for May and Corbyn both described a meeting on Wednesday
between the two sides as “constructive.”
May’s divorce deal with the other 27 EU nations has been rejected three
times by parliament and patience is wearing thin in Brussels as an April 12
deadline to end Britain’s 46-year membership nears with no agreement in
sight.
– Key figures around 2040 GMT –
New York – Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 26,218.13 (close)
New York – S&P 500: UP 0.2 percent at 2,873.40 (close)
New York – Nasdaq: UP 0.6 percent at 7,895.55 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.4 at 7,418.28 (close)
Frankfurt – DAX 30: UP 1.7 percent at 11,954.40 (close)
Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.8 percent at 5,468.91 (close)
EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.2 percent at 3,435.56 (close)
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 1.0 percent at 21,713.21 (close)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 1.2 percent at 29,986.39 (close)
Shanghai – Composite: UP 1.2 percent at 3,216.30 (close)
Oil – Brent Crude: DOWN 6 cents at $69.31 per barrel
Oil – West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 12 cents at $62.46 per barrel
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3157 from $1.3128 at 2100 GMT on Tuesday
Euro/pound: UP at 85.38 pence from 85.31 pence
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1234 from $1.1204
Dollar/yen: UP at 111.48 yen from 111.32 yen
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