US-China Trade Truce Sends Stocks Higher; India Equity Outlook

Asian stocks followed gains in US equities on optimism the US-China trade truce marks the end to an all-out tariff war. Shares in Australia and Japan jumped at the open after the S&P 500 closed more than 3% higher. Japan's Topix gained for a 13th day, putting it on track for it longest winning streak in 16 years. A gauge of US-listed Chinese stocks surged 5.4% on Monday in its best session in over two months. The dollar was little changed in Asia after jumping Monday. The return of risk appetite came as trade negotiators from the world's two biggest economies announced Monday a massive de-escalation in tariffs. In a carefully coordinated joint statement, the US slashed duties on Chinese products to 30% from 145% for a 90-day period, while Beijing dropped its levy on most goods to 10%. We get reaction from Brian Krawez, President and Lead Portfolio Manager at Scharf Investments.

Plus -  stocks in Pakistan and India rallied Monday as a ceasefire agreement between the two nuclear-armed neighbors calmed markets that had been shaken by military clashes on their border. Pakistan's stock benchmark KSE-30 Index closed 9.3% higher, the most since 2008, in a rally that triggered an hour-long trading halt. The NSE Nifty 50 Index rose 3.8% in Mumbai, as both nations stepped back from the brink of war, allowing market participants to turn their focus back to the economic outlook for the South Asian nations. We take a closer look at the outlook for Indian equities with Peeyush Mittal, Portfolio Manager at Matthews Asia.

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