Global stocks rise on US-China trade deal hopes

NEW YORK: Global stock markets rose Wednesday on optimism over US-China trade talks, while the pound gained on the dollar amid hopes that British Prime Minister Theresa May's new political gamble could avert a messy "no deal" Brexit.

Market watchers cited rising hopes that Washington and Beijing were close to finally sealing a trade agreement that averts higher tariffs.

"The momentum certainly seems to be continue to be on the upside," said Bill Lynch of Hinsdale Associates. "There's more positive sentiment with respect to a possible deal between the US and China."

Analysts pointed to a report in The Financial Times that said the United States and China had resolved most issues and that trade talks resuming Wednesday in Washington could be "potentially climactic."

"Clearly, the stock market continues to look at those negotiations with a glass-is-half-full mentality," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare.

Leading bourses in Asia gained more than one percent, while Frankfurt and Paris also posted solid gains.

The advance was more modest in London and Wall Street, with the latter affected by lackluster reports on services sector activity and private-sector hiring.

- Pound steadies -

Sterling won a boost after Conservative leader May declared late Tuesday she would look for another Brexit delay and softened her position ahead of Britain's scheduled departure from the European Union next week.

After her deal and many other options failed to win the British parliament's approval, May changed tack by meeting with Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to find a compromise on Wednesday

"The announcement was win-win for the pound," Oanda analyst Craig Erlam told AFP.

"Not only did May re-affirm her opposition to no deal, she's technically opened the door to a softer Brexit. I say technically because a lot now has to happen for that to be delivered, including the Conservatives and Labour working together towards an uncharacteristic compromise."

However, he added: "If this fails, I struggle to see how she recovers; it very much feels like a last-ditch, desperate gamble."

Representatives for May and Corbyn both described a meeting on Wednesday between the two sides as "constructive."

May's divorce deal with the other 27 EU nations has been rejected three times by parliament and patience is wearing thin in Brussels as an April 12 deadline to end Britain's 46-year membership nears with no agreement in sight.

- Key figures around 2040 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 26,218.13 (close)

New York - S&P 500: UP 0.2 percent at 2,873.40 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.6 percent at 7,895.55 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 at 7,418.28 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.7 percent at 11,954.40 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.8 percent at 5,468.91 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.2 percent at 3,435.56 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.0 percent at 21,713.21 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.2 percent at 29,986.39 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.2 percent at 3,216.30 (close)

Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN 6 cents at $69.31 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 12 cents at $62.46 per barrel

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3157 from $1.3128 at 2100 GMT on Tuesday

Euro/pound: UP at 85.38 pence from 85.31 pence

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1234 from $1.1204

Dollar/yen: UP at 111.48 yen from 111.32 yen