World stocks lifted to 2-1/2 month highs by trade optimism

February 18, 2019

Hopes of progress in Sino-U.S. trade talks and expectations of policy stimulus from central banks lifted world stocks to 2-1/2 month highs Monday, though European gains were dampened by concerns over the car sector’s outlook.

MSCI’s All-Country World Index rose 0.3 percent after Japan’s Nikkei closed up 1.8 percent at its highest level of the year and MSCI’s index of Asian equities rose almost one percent.

Trade negotiations between the United States and China will resume this week, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying he may extend a March 1 deadline for a deal.

But the mood was more subdued in Europe, where a pan-European equity index inched to new four-month high but gains were capped by the auto sector, which was hit by data showing Chinese car sales fell 16 percent in January, their seventh straight month of decline.

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Article source: http://www.dailystar.com.lb//Business/International/2019/Feb-18/476868-world-stocks-lifted-to-2-12-month-highs-by-trade-optimism.ashx