Asian markets surged today after China announced it was assessing recent US overtures regarding tariffs introduced by former President Donald Trump.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 1.7% to 22,496.33, while markets in Shanghai remained closed for a public holiday. Taiwan’s benchmark index surged 2.7% to reach 20,787.64.
An unnamed spokesperson from China’s Commerce Ministry confirmed Beijing had acknowledged several recent statements from senior US officials signalling openness to tariff negotiations.
“The United States has proactively reached out to China multiple times recently through relevant channels, expressing a desire for dialogue,” the spokesperson said, adding, “China is currently reviewing these developments.”
Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1% to close at 36,827.58, while South Korea’s Kospi edged up 0.3% to 2,563.01. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 also rose 1%, finishing at 8,226.80.
On Wall Street, strong earnings reports from tech giants Microsoft and Meta Platforms drove markets higher on Thursday. The S&P 500 advanced 0.6%, closing at 5,604.14, marking its eighth consecutive gain—the longest streak since August.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.2% to 40,752.96, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.5% to 17,710.74.
Microsoft soared 7.6% after reporting a 13% rise in revenue year-over-year, boosted by robust growth in its cloud computing and artificial intelligence segments.
Meta Platforms, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, also exceeded analysts’ expectations on revenue and earnings, attributing increased advertising sales to enhanced AI tools. Its shares climbed 4.2%.
