Rallying technology and energy stocks helped the S&P 500 recover from its worst day in a month and head back towards record heights as global markets mostly shrugged off the intensifying trade war between the US and China.
They also echoed the more sanguine atmosphere in a sell-off for government bonds on both sides of the Atlantic, which shifted the yield on the 10-Year US Treasury further above the 3 percent level. And the dollar was little changed against its main peers for much of the day before staging a late rally.
Beijing retaliated against the latest round of tariffs imposed by Washington on Chinese goods on Monday by imposing its own tariffs of between 5 and 10 percent on $60bn of US imports. Saying the US had undermined attempts to come to a mediated resolution to work out the trade dispute between the two countries.
Emerging market assets had a steady day in the face of the tit-for-tat tariff moves, with the FTSE EM equity index edging up 0.2 percent and some currencies - including the Russian ruble, Mexican peso and South Africa rand all gaining ground. Whilst sterling touched a seven-week high against the dollar, before going into retreat, ahead of an informal meeting of EU leaders in Salzburg this week that some analysts have indicated could mark a Brexit turning point.
The pound has a firmer undertone overall but there are apprehensions that advances may be based on relatively weak foundations although market sentiment has been encouraged by indications that the UK and EU can reach a deal in the next few weeks yet there remains precious little solid evidence that any of the principal controversies have been addressed.
Written by Scherzando Karasu, External Financial Journalist
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