Awaiting Trade Truce: Global Markets Brace for U.S.-China Talks

Global stocks held recent gains while oil prices rose amidst upcoming U.S.-China trade talks. The dollar continued to decline, and European stocks eased due to caution over tariffs. Attention focuses on the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, with minimal expectations for change.

World stocks maintained their upward trajectory on Wednesday, buoyed by news of an upcoming meeting between top U.S. and Chinese trade officials. In contrast, the dollar remained down for a fourth consecutive session, and European stock markets showed caution ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve decision on interest rates.

Key figures, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and China's top economic official, will gather in Switzerland for discussions aimed at de-escalating a trade war that has disrupted the global economy. Despite hopes for some progress, experts express skepticism about pivotal developments emerging from the talks.

The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting is set to influence market expectations significantly. Although U.S. stocks showed minor gains, European indices took a dip, reflecting the volatility and hesitation typically seen before such critical economic announcements.

(With inputs from agencies.)