China’s top negotiator Vice Premier Liu He is holding high-stakes talks with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in Washington (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS)

Hong Kong (AFP) – Shanghai led gains across Asian markets Friday at the end of a torrid week for equities, with investors keeping a nervous eye on China-US trade talks and taking heart from positive comments Donald Trump on the prospects for a deal.

There was no comment from either side after the first day of high-stakes negotiations in Washington between Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

And while US tariffs are due to more than double on $200 billion of imports at 0401 GMT — with China expected to retaliate — there are hopes the economic superpowers will be able to reach a deal to avert a trade war that could shatter global growth and batter markets.

After a week in which trading floors have been a sea of red, regional equities were on the up Friday, with optimism boosted by Trump saying he had received a “beautiful letter” from China’s Xi Jinping and that it was “possible” to get a deal.

Shanghai, which lost more than seven percent from Monday to Thursday, climbed more than two percent in early trade, while Hong Kong piled on 1.7 percent.

Tokyo went into the break 0.7 percent higher, while Singapore also gained 0.7 percent, Sydney added 0.3 percent and Taipei rose 0.8 percent.

Seoul jumped 0.8 percent as investors brushed off news that North Korea had tested a long-range weapon, which is likely to raise tensions after the breakdown of denuclearisation talks with the United States.

– ‘The peace is fragile’ –

However, while markets are on the up, analysts said there remains a lot on uncertainty over the trade talks.

“Markets will be in a holding pattern as we await the outcome of the meeting,” said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at ANZ Bank. “If there is a breakdown and the tariffs go up, then we will see a risk-off tone in markets.”

OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley said the fact that tariffs were to rise midway through the talks gave them “precious little time to come up with something that satisfies both sides”.

Although markets are up, “the peace is fragile, and it won’t take much today to panic investors into heading for the exit door en masse,” he added.

Halley also warned that while Trump praised Xi’s letter it was hard “to see how either of these two presidents will ever manage to really share the toys and play nicely on the global stage”.

In worrying sign, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times — which is published by the Communist Party’s People’s Daily — cited a source familiar with the talks as saying there is “zero” chance of a deal before Friday.

“If it is that bad, the real suspense is whether the two sides will continue negotiations after Friday,” Hu said. 

The slightly improved sentiment, and bargain-buying provided support to higher-yielding, riskier currencies — though the yuan continues to wallow around four-month lows.

 – Key figures around 0230 GMT – 

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 21,545.72 (break)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 1.7 percent at 28,780.16

Shanghai – Composite: UP 2.4 percent at 2,919.69

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1232 from $1.1218 at 2050 GMT

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3013 from $1.3011 

Dollar/yen: UP at 109.87 yen from 109.71 yen

Oil – West Texas Intermediate: UP 66 cents at $62.36 per barrel

Oil – Brent Crude: UP 70 cents at $71.09 per barrel

New York – Dow: DOWN 0.5 percent at 25,828.36 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.9 percent at 7,207.41 (close)

— Bloomberg News contributed to this story —

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.