EMERGING MARKETS-Stocks, currencies gain as investors look past U.S. tariff hike


Reuters | Updated: 10-05-2019 13:58 IST | Created: 10-05-2019 13:58 IST
EMERGING MARKETS-Stocks, currencies gain as investors look past U.S. tariff hike

Emerging-market shares and currencies gained on Friday as renewed hope for progress in trade talks between the United States and China overshadowed an increase in tariffs for Chinese goods. U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods on Friday, but talks between the two countries continued. Investors were hoping they would reach an agreement and avert the damage a trade war could do to the global economy.

"The increase in tariffs is well expected for a few days already, so when U.S. raised the tariffs the markets did not feel that extra surprise," said Iris Pang, an economist at ING. "If someone told us that the two sides are not going to talk, that would be a surprise."

MSCI's index for emerging-market stocks rose from two-month lows, led by Asian shares, but were still headed for their worst weekly performance so far this year. Chinese shares dropped when the tariffs took effect but then recovered. The Shanghai composite index and the blue-chip CSI300 index both rose more than 3%. The Hang Seng Index gained 1.6%. The yuan also strengthened.

Stocks in Johannesburg rose over 1% and the rand advanced, as the ruling African National Congress took the lead in elections for parliament and provincial legislatures. Moscow's MOEX index was among the few losers as traders returned form a market holiday. The rouble gained in thin trade.

Turkey's lira rose 1% after the central bank suspended repo auctions and took additional liquidity steps to counter the currency's recent declines, which came after a decision to re-run Istanbul's mayoral election. In emerging Europe, Polish stocks rose more than 1% from six-month lows. Budapest's BUX gained on mixed earnings.

Currencies in the region all strengthened against the euro. Bond yields continued to drift lower. For TOP NEWS across emerging markets

For CENTRAL EUROPE market report, see For TURKISH market report, see

For RUSSIAN market report, see (Reporting by Agamoni Ghosh in Bengaluru)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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