Markets ride positive wave on hopes of trade resolution

LONDON: European and Asian stocks mostly rose Wednesday as new tit-for-tat tariffs by China and the United States were seen as lighter than feared, while there were hopes the two sides will avert a damaging trade war.

US President Donald Trump said this week that he would press ahead with 10 percent levies on another $200 billion of imports, prompting Beijing to target $60 billion of US goods with five to 10 percent taxes.

The developments were a clear escalation in the months-long standoff between the world's top two economies.

However, analysts said the retaliation measures were not as painful as they could have been and sent European equities higher out of the gates.

"The markets managed a spirited open on Wednesday, despite Beijing's tariff response to Donald Trump's $200 billion attack on Chinese imports and the nearing of a Brexit 'moment of truth' in Salzburg," said Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell.

"Though China announcing tariffs on $60 billion in US imports is not great news, it is not as bad as it could have been."

European leaders meanwhile meet Wednesday in Salzburg, Austria, for a summit to set up the last stretch of talks for a Brexit deal.

The leaders will then meet without May on Thursday to discuss the hurdles to a deal and a parallel statement on future relations with Britain, following its departure from the European Union at the end of March.

- Pound leaps on data -

The pound meanwhile leapt on news that Britain's annual inflation rate unexpectedly hit a six-month high in August.

Despite Wednesday's rally, sterling has slumped since Britain's vote in favour of Brexit more than two years ago.

"Sterling remains pretty much headline-driven in the short term -- and any potential setbacks in Brexit developments could easily derail the rally as negotiations enter a critical stage," cautioned Forex.com analyst Fawad Razaqzada.

Asian markets meanwhile picked up the baton from a buoyant Wall Street.

Tokyo rose 1.1 percent, with a shift out of the safe-haven yen supporting Japanese exporters, while Hong Kong finished up 1.2 percent and Shanghai ended 1.1 percent higher.

"The bottom line why the market didn't react negatively was the lack of shock and awe given the tariffs were so well telegraphed," added Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA.

Dealers are now eyeing possible negotiations between Washington and Beijing after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin sent an invite.

- Key figures around 1050 GMT -

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London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 7,305.21 points

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.2 percent at 12,177.98

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.3 percent at 5,378.67

EURO STOXX 50: FLAT at 3,357.70

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.1 percent at 23,672.52 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.2 percent at 27,407.37 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.1 percent at 2,730.85 (close)

New York - Dow Jones: UP 0.7 percent at 26,246.96 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1701 from $1.1667 at 2100 GMT

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3194 from $1.3148

Dollar/yen: UP at 112.37 yen from 112.36 yen

Oil - Brent Crude: UP one cent at $79.04 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP two cents at $69.87