• Investing
  • Stock
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Portfolio Performance Today
Stock

Asia markets open: Hang Seng, CSI 300 lead gains as US, China hint at trade breakthrough

by May 12, 2025
by May 12, 2025

A wave of optimism swept across Asian-Pacific financial markets on Monday, propelling most major stock indices higher following weekend pronouncements from both the United States and China indicating “substantial progress” in their high-stakes trade negotiations.

While specific details of any agreement remained under wraps, the positive rhetoric from both economic giants was enough to significantly boost investor sentiment.

The positive momentum followed a weekend where high-level talks in Switzerland concluded with officials from both nations alluding to a positive outcome.

The White House announced a “trade deal” with China, albeit without immediately providing specifics.

US officials emphasized an agreement aimed at reducing the US trade deficit, while Chinese leaders stated they had reached an “important consensus.”

Adding weight to these pronouncements, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted the talks yielded “a great deal of productivity.”

His Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng, further fueled optimism by suggesting a joint statement containing “good news for the world” would be released on Monday.

Broad gains across Asian bourses

This apparent breakthrough in trade tensions translated into strong gains across the region. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index led the charge, advancing 1.03%.

Mainland China’s CSI 300 index also climbed significantly, up 0.89%. In South Korea, the Kospi index rose 0.47%, though the small-cap Kosdaq traded flat in a choppy session.

Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 increased by 0.29%.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 and the broader Topix index, after initially jumping on the news, pared some of their early gains to trade flat as the session progressed.

Taiwan’s Taiex index, however, surged 1.12% (as of 10:40 a.m. local time), with broad-based gains led by energy, utilities, and crucially, technology sectors.

Shares of tech behemoths Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) were seen trading 0.95% and 3.4% higher, respectively.

India-Pakistan ceasefire offers regional relief

Separately, investors were also monitoring developments on the Indian subcontinent.

A ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan over the weekend, following a period of intense cross-border firing – described as the worst in nearly three decades involving missiles and drones – offered a measure of regional relief and was expected to influence trading in Indian stocks.

US futures climb, gold retreats

The positive sentiment extended to US stock futures, which jumped in early Asian trading as investors awaited further details on the US-China trade understanding.

This optimism followed a somewhat downbeat close on Wall Street in the previous Friday’s session, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.29%, the S&P 500 edged down 0.07%, and the Nasdaq Composite ended little changed.

Reflecting the shift towards risk-on sentiment, spot gold prices plunged on Monday.

The precious metal, a traditional safe haven during times of political and financial instability, dropped 1.85% to $3,262.29 per ounce by 9:20 a.m. Singapore time.

This marked a sharp reversal from the previous week, where gold had notched a 2.6% gain as investors sought refuge from trade uncertainties.

Corporate focus: CATL’s Hong Kong IPO filing

In company-specific news, shares of Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) surged as much as 3.43% on the Shenzhen Exchange.

The rally followed CATL’s announcement of plans to raise at least 31.01 billion Hong Kong dollars (3.99 billion) through its upcoming HongKong listing.

The world′s largest electric vehicle battery producer is offering 117.9 million shares at a maximum price of HK 263 per share, with an option to increase the offering size.

Its prospectus revealed that over 20 cornerstone investors, including Sinopec and the Kuwait Investment Authority, have already subscribed for approximately $2.623 billion worth of shares, indicating strong institutional interest.

As the trading week begins, the apparent progress in US-China trade relations has provided a significant boost to market confidence, though investors will remain eager for concrete details and the formal release of any joint statements.

The post Asia markets open: Hang Seng, CSI 300 lead gains as US, China hint at trade breakthrough appeared first on Invezz

0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Indian markets open: Nifty eyes 2% jump; markets cheer India-Pakistan calm, US-China deal signs
next post
US Trade Policy is a Humanitarian and Geopolitical Disaster

Related Posts

Banijay to acquire majority stake in Tipico creating...

October 28, 2025

Cathie Wood warns investors to brace for correction,...

October 28, 2025

European markets open mixed on Tuesday: FTSE opens...

October 28, 2025

Entry and Midnight Foundation launch integration to unite...

October 28, 2025

Elon Musk challenges Wikipedia with Grokipedia, his AI-driven...

October 28, 2025

Novartis shares fall as profit lags estimates; downside...

October 28, 2025

Nio stock price forecast: is it safe to...

October 28, 2025

IBEX 35 Index has soared: top Spanish stocks...

October 27, 2025

Australia commits A$83.5 million to boost cyber resilience...

October 27, 2025

Honda joins India’s clean energy drive with OMC...

October 27, 2025

Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.

By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

Recent Posts

  • Understanding Medicaid

    October 28, 2025
  • Colonel Harwood’s Legacy: The Engineer Who Built an Economic Institution

    October 28, 2025
  • Digi International Announces Digi XBee 3 Global LTE Cat 4 Cellular Modem for IoT Applications

    October 28, 2025
  • Trumponomics Is Pushing Young Voters Into Socialism

    October 28, 2025
  • Banijay to acquire majority stake in Tipico creating a European gaming powerhouse

    October 28, 2025
  • Cathie Wood warns investors to brace for correction, backs this unlikely winner

    October 28, 2025

Editors’ Picks

  • 1

    Meta executives eligible for 200% salary bonus under new pay structure

    February 21, 2025
  • 2

    Pop Mart reports 188% profit surge, plans aggressive global expansion

    March 26, 2025
  • 3

    New FBI leader Kash Patel tapped to run ATF as acting director

    February 23, 2025
  • 4

    Walmart earnings preview: What to expect before Thursday’s opening bell

    February 20, 2025
  • 5

    Cramer reveals a sub-sector of technology that can withstand Trump tariffs

    March 1, 2025
  • 6

    Anthropic’s newly released Claude 3.7 Sonnet can ‘think’ as long as the user wants before giving an answer

    February 25, 2025
  • 7

    Nvidia’s investment in SoundHound wasn’t all that significant after all

    March 1, 2025

Categories

  • Economy (3,033)
  • Editor's Pick (297)
  • Investing (185)
  • Stock (2,064)
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2025 Portfolioperformancetoday.com All Rights Reserved.

Portfolio Performance Today
  • Investing
  • Stock
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Portfolio Performance Today
  • Investing
  • Stock
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Copyright © 2025 Portfolioperformancetoday.com All Rights Reserved.

Read alsox

Chocolate giant Barry Callebaut’s sales drop as...

April 10, 2025

Forever 21 plans China comeback with Chengdi,...

August 29, 2025

Will the Harry Porter donuts boost the...

August 15, 2025