Currency traders watch monitors at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
HONG KONG, China — Asian markets were mixed Wednesday as investors kept tabs on China-US developments after they agreed to further talks to extend their trade truce, while eyes were also on tech earnings and a key Federal Reserve meeting.
After deals were reached with the European Union and Japan over the past week, focus has been on negotiations between Washington and Beijing to extend an agreement to lower eye-watering tariffs that threatened the world’s top economies.
The two-day meeting in Stockholm ended without a resolution but with the US team voicing optimism they could announce a second 90-day truce.
Neither side has made public any details, although US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said President Donald Trump would have the “final call” on any extension.
READ: US says Trump has ‘final call’ on China trade truce
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the tone of the talks “very constructive”.
Chris Weston at Pepperstone said: “Progress on a further extension remains the well-subscribed base case, but Trump holds the final call on that, and we note there is still ample time until we reach the deadline of 12 August.
Aug.1 deadline nears
“For now, the markets are unperturbed by what they hear and have a further impending 90-day extension fully priced.”
The general feeling is that the moratorium will be extended but there remains some nervousness, with many other countries still to reach agreements ahead of Trump’s August 1 deadline.
In early Asian trade, Tokyo was flat, while Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila were down and Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta rose.
Among those countries still to reach a deal are Brazil and India, with the South American giant facing the threat of 50 percent tariffs.
On Tuesday, the president said New Delhi could face a 20-25 percent rate, adding: “India has been a good friend, but India has charged basically more tariffs than almost any other country.
“You just can’t do that.”
Earnings season
Major earnings releases from tech titans Meta and Microsoft are due Wednesday, with Amazon and Apple coming Thursday.
“It’s been a solid US reporting season so far, but these mega-cap names need to run it hot and blow the lights out, given the bar to please has been sufficiently raised,” Pepperstone’s Weston said.
As well as the results, focus will be on the firms’ forecasts in light of Trump’s tariffs and their colossal investments in artificial intelligence.
The Fed is widely expected to stand pat on interest rates Wednesday, but investors will be looking for any hint of a cut in September after recent economic data indicated some softening in the labour market.
READ: US Fed set to hold firm against Trump pressure
Oil prices held Tuesday’s gains of more than three percent — their biggest in six weeks, according to Bloomberg News — after Trump reiterated his warning of fresh sanctions on Russia unless it reaches a truce deal with Ukraine.
READ: Global stocks mixed as market focus shifts to earnings deluge
Key figures at around 0230 GMT
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: FLAT at 40,682.14 (break)
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.4 percent at 25,409.75
Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.4 percent at 3,624.08
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1567 from $1.1554 on Tuesday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3363 from $1.3357
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 148.06 yen from 148.50 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 86.55 pence from 86.47 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $69.25 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.2 percent at $72.68 per barrel
New York – Dow: DOWN 0.5 percent at 44,632.99 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 9,136.32 (close)
