By Ritu,
Asian stock markets traded mostly higher on Thursday in Asia as investors cheered the signing of the phase one U.S.-China trade deal.
China’s Shenzhen Composite rose 0.2%, while the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.1%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 0.4%.
Overnight, officials from the U.S. and China signed the phase one trade agreement, putting their two-year trade conflict on a pause.
Under the terms of the deal, the U.S. slashes tariffs on $120 billion in Chinese goods to 7.5% from 15%. In exchange, China agreed to increase purchases in the U.S. by $200 billion over the next two years in manufactured goods, agriculture, energy and services.
However, gains were limited as some analysts called the deal “fragile” as it includes an option for China to exit the trade deal should the U.S. re-impose tariffs.
On the data front, while not a directional driver, the National Bureau of Statistics reported today that China’s new home prices rose 0.3% in December month-on-month.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 inched up 0.1%. South Korea’s KOSPI advanced 0.2%.
Down under, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 traded 0.6% higher.