World stocks hit their highest in almost two years on Tuesday, keeping record highs in sight, following fresh signs that the United States and China were working to end a bitter trade war that has dealt a blow to the global economy.
China’s Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. Trade representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin held a phone call on issues related to a phase one trade agreement on Tuesday, China’s commerce ministry said.
This, alongside a strong Hong Kong debut for Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba in the world’s largest share sale of this year, boosted stock markets in Asia .MIAPJ0000PUS .N225 .
Alibaba shares (9988.HK) (BABA.N) opened almost 7% higher in Hong Kong than their issue price and at a small premium to pricing in New York. The listing has been seen as a vote of confidence in Hong Kong after months of anti-government protests that have rocked the former British colony.
European shares were marginally lower in early trade .GDAXI .FCHI although the pan-European STOXX 600 remained within striking distance of four-year highs.
MSCI’s 49-country main world share index edged up 0.1% .MIWD00000PUS, having touched its highest level in almost two years. It is less than 1% off record highs hit in early 2018.
Trade in U.S. stock futures were a tad firmer ESC1 1YMc1.
A flurry of major acquisition activity has also supported world shares, with France’s LVMH (LVMH.PA) offering to buy U.S. jeweler Tiffany & Co (TIF.N) and Charles Schwab Corp’s (SCHW.N) agreeing to purchase U.S. discount brokerage TD Ameritrade Holding Corp (AMTD.O).
Still, optimism over U.S./China trade talks remained the key driver following positive headlines from the world’s two biggest economies on this front in recent days.
“While it is easy to be skeptical about these sorts of reports, given we’ve heard them so many times before, particularly the ones about a roll back of tariffs, they do tend to create a momentum all of their own,” said Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.
“Even when they are denied, and no matter how cynical you are, it has tended to be a fool’s errand in standing in the way of any move higher.”
The United States has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods in a 16-month long dispute over trade practices that the U.S. government says are unfair. China has responded with its own tariffs on U.S. goods.
The next important date to watch is Dec. 15, when Washington is scheduled to impose even more tariffs on Chinese goods.
Japan’s yen fell to a two-week low of 109.205 per dollar JPY=EBS, while the Swiss franc CHF= traded near a six-week low against the greenback as the optimistic tone sapped demand for safe-haven currencies.
In the offshore market, the yuan CNH=D3 briefly rose to a one-week high of 7.0188 versus the dollar.
Yields on safe-haven government bonds in the euro zone DE10YT=RR nudged higher, although the limited rise in borrowing costs suggested caution from bond investors.
“What we have seen, especially if I look at the equity side, is that the optimism (on U.S./China trade talks) is quite high so we rather have the potential for a risk-off move,” said Sebastian Fellechner, a rates strategist at DZ Bank in Frankfurt.
Elsewhere, Bitcoin BTC=BTSP, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency, was 1.6% firmer at $7,236.71, recovering from a six-month low on Monday after the People’s Bank of China launched a fresh crackdown on cryptocurrencies.
U.S. crude CLc1 was flat at $58 a barrel. Brent crude LCOc1 was also little changed on the day at $63.66 per barrel.
