US President Donald Trump hailed progress in the trade talks with China, saying a deal was ‘potentially very close’. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP
Asian markets rose on Monday on fresh optimism over the long-running Sino-US trade talks after Beijing offered an olive branch on the key issue of intellectual property (IP), while US President Donald Trump hailed progress on the agreement.
Hong Kong stocks led the regional advance with pro-democracy parties winning a landslide in local elections that could put pressure on the city’s government and Beijing to act after months of protests that have hobbled the financial hub’s economy and transport.
The week got off to a strong start after China said at the weekend it would hike penalties on violations of intellectual property rights while also look at reducing the thresholds for criminal punishments of those who steal IP.
The IP issue is a major sticking point for the US in the discussions and agreement on it is seen as key to their success.
Trump on Friday told Fox News the deal was “potentially very close”.
Global markets have rallied in recent weeks on expectations the economic superpowers will sign a mini pact as the first part of a wider trade deal, though dealers are growing edgy at the lack of detail from either side.
‘Sticking point’
There are also concerns about how tariffs will be wound back, with China insisting they are lifted as part of any agreement.
“Although long on promise, but short on detail, China’s move appears to be an attempt to mollify one of the US’s main reasons for initiating the trade war in the first place,” said Oanda senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley. “The hope being to get impetus back into the interim trade-talks.”
On Monday, Tokyo ended 0.8 per cent higher, while Shanghai rallied 0.7 per cent and Seoul piled on one per cent. Singapore added 0.1 per cent, Sydney climbed 0.3 per cent and Mumbai jumped 0.9 per cent. Wellington and Bangkok also rose but Taipei, Manila and Jakarta went backwards. The Cambodia Securities Exchange index fell 0.81 per cent.
“The markets are pretty much priced for a deal to go ahead, and that may be the case, but we may see that pushed out to 2020,” Saxo Capital Markets market strategist Eleanor Creagh told Bloomberg TV.
“We can see China make concessions on intellectual property . . . also on the currency and agricultural purchases. But the key sticking point is really going to be the rolling back of tariffs.”
Hong Kong was the standout performer, surging 1.5 per cent as pro-democracy candidates headed for a huge win in community-level elections.
The results will send the Beijing-backed government a clear message of broad public support for the demands of a protest movement that has gripped the territory for months.
It will “be difficult for Beijing to ignore these results for fear of greater international condemnation in the court of public opinion”, said AxiTrader’s Stephen Innes. “The people have spoken, and now the ball is in Beijing’s court.”
Property firms, which have taken a battering as the sometimes violent demonstrations have dragged on, were among the best performers, while embattled transport network controller MTR Corp was also a big gainer.
In early trade London rose 0.4 per cent, Paris added 0.5 per cent and Frankfurt gained 0.7 per cent.
