Asian Stocks Rebound as U.S.-China Trade Talks Stay on Track

Asian markets showed a cautious recovery on Tuesday as optimism returned over ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.5%, while S&P 500 futures gained 0.3%, extending Wall Street’s rebound from Monday after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that President Donald Trump remains scheduled to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month.

Wall Street had rallied up to 2.2% on Monday, led by chipmakers, as Trump adopted a more conciliatory tone on trade tensions. The rebound followed sharp global selloffs last Friday after Trump’s announcement of 100% tariffs on China reignited fears of a trade war. Market sentiment improved when Trump later signaled openness to negotiations via Truth Social.

Citi analysts suggested trade tensions are unlikely to escalate, citing China’s strong bargaining position that could force the U.S. into a more flexible stance. In Asia, Taiwan’s benchmark led gains with a 2.2% jump, and South Korea’s Kospi advanced 1% after Samsung Electronics forecasted a 32% surge in third-quarter operating profit, supported by robust demand for conventional memory chips.

Japan’s Nikkei fell 1.2% as markets reopened from a holiday, while Australia’s benchmark slipped 0.1%. In currency markets, the U.S. dollar strengthened to 152.40 yen, and the dollar index stood at 99.289. Traders are almost certain the Federal Reserve will cut rates by 25 basis points at its October 29 meeting, with a 97.8% probability priced in, according to CME Group’s FedWatch tool.

Elsewhere, the euro was steady at $1.1566 after French President Emmanuel Macron rejected resignation calls. Brent crude edged up 0.4% to $63.56 per barrel following an OPEC report projecting balanced global oil supply in 2026. Gold rose 0.7% to $4,138.39 per ounce, while Bitcoin and Ether slipped 0.9% and 1.5%, respectively.