In This Article:
* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
* Nikkei futures rise, trade thin with Tokyo on holiday
* Yen, bonds nurse losses on Sino-U.S. trade progress
* Sterling rally pauses as EU summit looms over Brexit
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Asian share markets pushed higher on Monday as signs of progress in the Sino-U.S. trade standoff whetted risk appetites, while pressuring safe-haven bonds and the yen.
Liquidity was lacking, however, with Japan off and a partial market holiday in the United States for Columbus Day. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.5%.
Australia's main index gained 0.9% and South Korea firmed 1.3%.
While Tokyo was on holiday, Nikkei futures were trading at 22,105 compared with a Friday close of 21,798 in the Nikkei index. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 also added another 0.36% after jumping on Friday.
Sentiment had been boosted when U.S. President Donald Trump outlined the first phase of a deal to end a trade war with China and suspended a threatened tariff hike, though officials on both sides said much more work needed to be done. The emerging deal, covering agriculture, currency and some aspects of intellectual property protections, would represent the biggest step by the two countries in 15 months.
"The substance is more in the vein of an extension of the truce – though that was the best the market could have hoped for," said Tapas Strickland, a director of economics and markets at National Australia Bank.
"Still, it is unlikely the 'partial deal' will do much to give certainty to firms investment and hiring decisions in the U.S. or elsewhere," he cautioned. "As such it is still likely trade uncertainty will weigh on economic activity, and the Fed will cut rates to ward-off the headwinds."
Futures imply around a 72% chance the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its meeting later this month.
BIG WEEK FOR BREXIT
The progress on trade was still enough to slug safe-haven bonds with yields on U.S. 10-year Treasury notes climbing 23 basis points last week to stand at 1.74%.
The yield curve also steepened as short-term rates were held down by news the Fed would start buying about $60 billion per month in Treasury bills to ensure "ample reserves" in the banking system.
The rally in risk assets saw the yen ease across the board and the dollar was steady at 108.40 early on Monday after hitting a 10-week top around 108.61 on Friday.
The dollar fared less well elsewhere, partly due to a jump in sterling, and was last at 98.431 against a basket of currencies after losing 0.5% last week.