AFP, Hong Kong :
Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday, taking up the baton after a record close on Wall Street, with investors filled with a renewed sense of hope over China-US talks, while the pound was winning support from easing Brexit fears.
Expectations for another Federal Reserve interest rate cut this week and a strong corporate reporting season were also providing a much-needed lift to confidence after a rollercoaster year on global trading floors.
Donald Trump reinforced optimism that the world’s economic superpowers are on track to resolve their tariffs war by saying the two sides were “ahead of schedule” on the first phase of a wider deal, and he hoped to sign it with Xi Jinping next month.
His comments came after officials from Washington and Beijing hailed progress in top-level talks on Friday.
“So far the soundings coming from both the US and China point to the likelihood of significant progress in trade negotiations,” said National Australia Bank analyst Rodrigo Catril.
