Seoul Gazette - Stocks mostly rise as US-UK unveil trade deal

After the turbulence sparked by Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs on April 2, markets have strengthened in recent weeks on optimism that countries will reach agreements with Washington to avoid his potentially damaging levies.

"The trade deal news... sets the table for the market that it should expect more deals in coming weeks and months," said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare.

"From that vantage point, it is providing a sentiment boost."

The deal reduces tariffs on British cars and lifts them on steel and aluminum, while in return Britain will open up markets to US beef and other farm products.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also hailed it as a "historic day", although the agreement is thin on details and both sides said there would be more negotiations.

A 10 percent baseline tariff on Britain imposed by Trump on April 2 also remains in place.

Top Chinese and US negotiators are set to meet on Saturday and Sunday in Switzerland for their first talks since Trump unveiled his tariffs assault.

The gathering has fueled hopes for a dialing down of tensions between the world's economic superpowers, which have seen Washington impose levies of 145 percent on China and Beijing retaliate with 125 percent tariffs of its own.

But there are concerns that little substantial progress will be made.

"It is clear the market is already pricing in some level of trade optimism... but without actual deals (outside of the US-UK) inked, it's hard to justify further upside," Razaqzada said.

While London and Washington closed in on a deal, the EU warned it would target US products, including planes and cars, worth 95 billion euros in retaliation for Trump's tariffs if their own negotiations fall flat.

Wall Street indices spent the entire day in positive territory, with the S&P 500 finishing up 0.6 percent.

But London's blue-chip FTSE 100 index dipped into the red, shedding 0.3 percent as the Bank of England trimmed its main interest rate by a quarter point to 4.25 percent but warned that US tariffs were weighing on global growth.

Bitcoin climbed above $100,000 for the first time since February, while the dollar strengthened against the euro and other major currencies.

Frankfurt led European equity gains after data showed German industrial production jumped more than expected in March, a boost for Europe's biggest economy.

Paris also climbed, tracking gains in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Elsewhere, the Swedish and Norwegian central banks kept their rates unchanged, with both hinting future cuts are possible despite economic uncertainty in the wake of US tariffs.

That comes after the US central bank on Wednesday paused rate cuts and warned of higher risks to its inflation and unemployment goals in a likely reference to Trump's tariff rollout.

Trump again hit out at Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell for not cutting rates, calling him a "fool", despite comments last month roiling markets over fears the president could try to oust him.

Analysts do not expect the Fed to cut rates until July at the earliest.

- Key figures at around 2130 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 0.6 percent at 41,368.45 (close)

New York - S&P 500: UP 0.6 percent at 5,663.94 (close)

New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.1 percent at 17,928.14 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percent at 8,531.61 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.9 percent at 7,694.44 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.0 percent at 23,352.69 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.4 percent at 36,928.63 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.4 percent at 22,775.92 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,352.00 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1230 from $1.1301 on Wednesday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3249 from $1.3292

Dollar/yen: UP at 145.82 yen from 143.83 yen

Euro/pound: DOWN at 84.73 pence from 85.02 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 3.2 percent at $59.91 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.8 percent at $62.84 per barrel

burs-jmb/dw

F.Cha--SG