Trump, Xi Begin High-Stakes China Summit Focused on Trade, Taiwan and Global Tensions 
OECD Sees Bank of Japan Raising Interest Rates to 2% by 2027 
Trump Says Iran Ceasefire ‘On Life Support’ as Oil Prices Surge Above $104 
US-China Trade Talks Begin in South Korea Ahead of Trump-Xi Beijing Summit 
ASX Names Former Euronext Executive Anthony Attia as New CEO 
Trump Faces Uphill Battle Seeking China’s Help on Iran Conflict 
US Stock Futures Slip as Iran Tensions and Hot Inflation Data Pressure Wall Street 
Japan Considers Extra Budget Aid Amid Rising Fuel and Utility Costs 
US, Japan Reaffirm Strong Currency Coordination Amid Yen Volatility 
Trump and Xi Temple of Heaven Visit Highlights Trade and Diplomacy Goals 
Wall Street Futures Rise Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit as Tech Stocks Lead Market Rally 
Rubio Discusses Iran Crisis and Strait of Hormuz Disruptions With UK and Australia 
Trump Administration Seeks Court Pause to Reinstate 10% Global Tariffs 
Gold Prices Hold Steady as Investors Monitor U.S.-Iran Tensions and Trump-Xi Summit 
Trump Says Iran Ceasefire Near Collapse as Oil Prices Surge 
Oil Prices Slip as Strait of Hormuz Disruptions and U.S. Inventory Data Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian Stocks Slip as Korea’s KOSPI Tumbles Amid Iran Conflict and Chip Sector Profit-Taking 
Asian stock markets posted modest gains on Thursday, supported by strength in technology and semiconductor stocks, while Chinese equities retreated as investors closely monitored the high-profile meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Regional investors took positive cues from Wall Street after U.S. markets closed at record highs overnight, driven largely by strong performances in chipmakers and major technology companies. Market sentiment remained relatively resilient despite ongoing concerns surrounding the Iran conflict and its potential impact on global inflation and oil supply.
Chinese stocks underperformed compared to other Asian markets, with the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index dropping 0.8% and the Shanghai Composite declining 0.7%. The pullback came after both indexes recently touched multi-year highs, triggering profit-taking among investors ahead of the closely watched Trump-Xi summit.
The meeting between the U.S. and Chinese leaders is expected to focus on critical geopolitical and economic issues, including trade tariffs, artificial intelligence development, and Taiwan-related tensions. President Trump arrived in Beijing alongside several prominent U.S. business executives, raising optimism that diplomatic engagement could improve relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Elsewhere in Asia, markets saw mixed movement. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s KOSPI both posted gains of around 0.2%, with the Korean market continuing its strong recent momentum. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 0.7%, boosted by a sharp rally in Alibaba shares after the company announced plans to significantly increase investment in artificial intelligence over the next three years.
Meanwhile, Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.1%, extending its losing streak as investors remained cautious over inflation risks linked to the Iran conflict. Singapore’s Straits Times Index and India’s Nifty 50 futures also edged lower amid concerns about elevated crude oil prices and potential supply disruptions.
