Trade talk optimism keeps Asian shares close to four-month highs
Equities enjoy support from the hope that China-US trade talks are making progress and the expectation of policy stimulus from central banks
Tokyo/Sydney — Asian shares hovered near four-month highs on Tuesday, supported by the hope that China-US trade talks were making progress and the expectation of policy stimulus from central banks. Investor confidence was bolstered by mild gains in European stocks as US markets were shut on Monday for a public holiday. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was a shade firmer, while Japan's Nikkei was almost flat. Chinese shares were little changed, too, with the blue-chip index up 0.1% after surging in the previous session. Reports of progress in trade talks between the US and China have prompted investors to be mildly optimistic that the two countries can reach a compromise by March 1 that will de-escalate their dispute or at least avoid a sharp hike in tariffs, although few details from the talks have emerged. A new round of talks between the US and China to resolve their trade war will take place in Washington on Tuesday, with follow-up sessions at a higher l...
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