Asia markets gained on Tuesday, with major indexes in Japan, South Korea, China and Hong Kong trading higher.
The Nikkei 225 jumped 212.53 points, or 1%, to 21,587.78.
The Japanese yen, which is seen as a safe-haven currency during times of market volatility, traded at 107.29 versus the U.S. dollar, strengthening from levels above 107.50 early last week.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index returned from a long weekend to gain 72.37 points, or 0.3%, to 25,893.40
Korean markets made headway as Samsung shares gained 2.4%. The tech giant announced third-quarter guidance, saying its operating profit for the three months that ended in September is expected to more than halve from a year ago, but it is set to beat analysts’ expectations.
Australia’s benchmark ASX 200 notched a gain with most sectors advancing. The country’s so-called Big Four banks gained as shares of National Australia Bank were up 0.6%, Commonwealth Bank gained 0.9% and Westpac shares retraced losses to trade up 0.2%.
Meanwhile, the Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6751, climbing from an earlier low of $0.6726.
CHINA
The CSI 300 returned from extended holiday to pick up 23.15 points, or 0.6%, to 3,837.68
High-level trade talks between the world’s two largest economies are due to start on Thursday, but reports said Chinese officials appear to be growing hesitant to pursue a broad trade deal with the United States.
Deputy trade negotiators from both sides also began a new round of talks on Monday aimed at ending the prolonged trade war, where Washington and Beijing have imposed tariffs on billions of dollars worth of each other’s imports.
But, new developments this week may potentially complicate the negotiations: The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday added 28 Chinese firms and public security bureaus to the so-called Entity List, a blacklist restricting their ability to do business with American companies.
Many of those names added include Chinese tech companies such as SenseTime Group, video surveillance firms Hangzhou Hikvision and Shenzhen-listed Zhejiang Dahua Technology, and IFLYTEK.
Zhejiang Dahua Technology shares were halted from trade pending announcement, Reuters reported, while IFLYTEK shares fell 2.67%.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi index improved 24.52 points, or 1.2%, to 2,046.25
In Taiwan, the Taiex index gained 82.25 points, or 0.8%, to 11,017.31
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index acquired 11.37 points, or 0.4%, to 3,110.85
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 jumped 40.53 points, or 0.4%, to 11,016.15
In Australia, the ASX 200 advanced 29.86 points, or 0.5%, to 6,593.43
