Asian stocks up on hopes of thaw in US-China trade tensions

ASIAN SHARES rose to near two-month highs on Monday on hopes of a thaw in US-China trade tensions, after US President Donald Trump pledged to help ZTE Corp. “get back into business, fast” after a US ban crippled the Chinese technology company.

SYDNEY — Asian shares rose to near two-month highs on Monday on hopes of a thaw in USChina trade tensions, after US President Donald Trump pledged to help ZTE Corp. “get back into business, fast” after a US ban crippled the Chinese technology company.

Mr. Trump’s comments on Sunday came ahead of a second round of trade talks between US and Chinese officials this week to resolve an escalating trade dispute. China had said last week its stance in the negotiations would not change.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.50%, while Japan’s Nikkei tacked on 0.30%.

Chinese shares were also buoyant after Mr. Trump’s comments on ZTE Corp., which JPMorgan analysts said was “a significant positive.”

Shanghai’s SSE Composite index rose 0.60% while the bluechip rallied 1.1%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index climbed 1.2%.

“The fact Trump is now...working to find a resolution for ZTE marks the latest sign of thawing in Beijing-Washington relations,” JPMorgan said.

“Trump also needs China to remain on side ahead of his meeting with North Korea’s Kim and this also suggests that until the 12 June meeting the signaling from the US on trade will be more positive.”

The US has said it will lift sanctions on Pyongyang if North Korea agrees to completely dismantle its nuclear weapons program.

Elsewhere in Asia, the Malaysian ringgit slid 1% to a fourmonth trough against the dollar in the first onshore trade since a shock election upset last week. Malaysian stocks sank as much as 2.7% at one point but were up 0.50% by midday.

Veteran Mahathir Mohamad came out of political retirement to lead the opposition Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) to a stunning victory defeating prime minister Najib Razak, a former protege he had accused of corruption.

Some investors were concerned that populist promises such as repealing an unpopular goods and services tax ( GST) and restoring a petrol subsidy could undermine the country’s finances.

But some analysts believe Mr. Mahathir’s proposals could be positive for the economy.

“The repeal of GST, while only marginally negative for the fiscal deficit, will be a boon for consumers, who have been upset that they bear the burden of poor fiscal management and came out to vote against the establishment,” said Trinh Nguyen, senior economist at Natixis.

OIL AND IRAN

While tensions in the Korean peninsula have eased, US plans to reintroduce sanctions against Iran have stoked anxiety in the Middle East.

Iran pumps about 4% of the world’s oil, and the latest development has sent oil prices near multi-year highs.

On Monday, US crude slipped 24 cents to $ 70.46 a barrel and Brent was off 39 cents at $76.73 as a relentless rise in US drilling activity pointed to increased output.

The US threatened on Sunday to impose sanctions on European companies that do business with Iran, as the remaining participants in the Iran nuclear accord stiffened their resolve to keep that agreement operational.

In currencies, the dollar dipped 0.10% to 92.41 against a basket of major currencies and was set for its fourth straight day of losses.

Against the Japanese yen, it ticked down to 109.32 per dollar, remaining largely in a holding pattern since late last month.

The euro inched 0.18% up to $ 1.1963 following two consecutive sessions of gains as Italy’s anti-establishment parties looked likely to form the next government.

Last week, the Bank of England held rates steady and New Zealand’s central bank said the official cash rate will remain at historic lows of 1.75% for “some time.”

That leaves the Fed as the only major central bank in the world committed to rate increases although recent data showing moderate inflation reading has cast doubt over the pace of any hikes.

Spot gold was up 0.20% at $ 1,320.06 an ounce, after eking out a small weekly gain last week. —