Asian stocks climb ahead of US-China trade talks in London, buoyed by upbeat US jobs data

Malay Mail

2 days ago

TOKYO, June 9 — Shares jumped and the dollar pared recent gains today as Asian markets reacted to better-than-expected US jobs data ahead of talks in London aimed at mending a trade rift between the US and China.
Wall Street stocks had closed sharply higher on Friday after the jobs data eased concerns about damage to the world's biggest economy from President Donald Trump's unpredictable tariff regime.
Today, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.7 per cent, with Australia's markets shut for a holiday. Japan's Nikkei stock index rose 0.9 per cent.
But pan-region Euro Stoxx 50 futures pointed to a decline while US stock futures, the S&P 500 e-minis, slid 0.2 per cent.
Sentiment was weighed down by a standoff in Los Angeles that led to Trump calling in the California National Guard to quell demonstrations over his immigration policies.
The dollar slid 0.3 per cent against the yen to 144.46, trimming its 0.9 per cent jump on Friday. The European single currency was up 0.2 per cent on the day at US$1.1417 (RM4.84). Sterling traded at US$1.3553, up 0.3 per cent.
Top trade representatives from Washington and Beijing are due to meet for talks expected to focus on critical minerals, whose production is dominated by China. The discussions follow a rare call last week between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
'Trade policy will remain the big macro uncertainty,' said Kyle Rodda, a senior financial market analyst at Capital.com. 'Signs of further momentum in talks could give the markets fresh boost to kick-off the week.'
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent Washington in talks with China, Trump said in a social media post. China's foreign ministry said Vice Premier He Lifeng will be in Britain for the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism.
'China export growth slows'
US job growth slowed in May by less than had been forecast, data showed on Friday. But dour economic readings from China added to evidence the trade war is taking a toll.
China's export growth slowed to a three-month low in May, while factory-gate deflation deepened to its worst level in two years, separate reports showed today.
Even so, trade optimism lifted Chinese shares. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 0.8 per cent, touching the 24,000-point level for the first time since March 21. China's blue-chip CSI300 Index added 0.2 per cent.
Attention now turns to US inflation data on Wednesday that will feed into expectations for the timing of any rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The Fed is in a blackout period ahead of its June 18 policy decision.
Markets are facing 'mixed fortunes' today as they balance optimism over trade and the US economy against the potential for social unrest in California, said Jeff Ng, Head of Asia Macro Strategy at SMBC.
'The trade talks, if there's any progress, may help as well, but markets may not have priced in a lot of breakthrough for that,' Ng said. 'In the meantime, we are also quite cognisant that in the US there are protests in LA and the National Guard is also being sent in, so we have to be on the watch for event risk as well.'
Gold was little changed at US$3,311.65 per ounce after a 1.3 per cent slide on Friday. US crude was steady at US$64.54 a barrel following a 1.9 per cent surge late last week. — Reuters