Trump Says Iran Ceasefire ‘On Life Support’ as Oil Prices Surge Above $104 
US Stock Futures Slip as Iran Tensions and Hot Inflation Data Pressure Wall Street 
Trump, Xi Begin High-Stakes China Summit Focused on Trade, Taiwan and Global Tensions 
Trump Faces Uphill Battle Seeking China’s Help on Iran Conflict 
Asian Stocks Steady as Iran War Concerns Persist Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Trump Pushes China Market Access During High-Stakes Xi Summit 
U.S. Urges China to Help Curb Iran’s Actions in Gulf, Rubio Says 
Trump Says Iran Ceasefire Near Collapse as Oil Prices Surge 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Strong U.S. Inflation Data Boosts Dollar 
Gold Prices Hold Steady as Investors Monitor U.S.-Iran Tensions and Trump-Xi Summit 
Dollar Surges as Inflation Data Fuels Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
US Inflation Expected to Rise Again in April as Fed Signals Higher Interest Rates 
Australia Housing Tax Reform Sparks Debate Over Property Investor Tax Breaks 
Trump and Xi Temple of Heaven Visit Highlights Trade and Diplomacy Goals 
US-China Trade Talks Begin in South Korea Ahead of Trump-Xi Beijing Summit 
Asian Currencies Slide as Indian Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Iran Tensions 
Trump Administration Seeks Court Pause to Reinstate 10% Global Tariffs 
Asian stock markets posted modest gains on Thursday, supported by strength in technology and semiconductor stocks, while Chinese equities retreated as investors closely monitored the high-profile meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Regional investors took positive cues from Wall Street after U.S. markets closed at record highs overnight, driven largely by strong performances in chipmakers and major technology companies. Market sentiment remained relatively resilient despite ongoing concerns surrounding the Iran conflict and its potential impact on global inflation and oil supply.
Chinese stocks underperformed compared to other Asian markets, with the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index dropping 0.8% and the Shanghai Composite declining 0.7%. The pullback came after both indexes recently touched multi-year highs, triggering profit-taking among investors ahead of the closely watched Trump-Xi summit.
The meeting between the U.S. and Chinese leaders is expected to focus on critical geopolitical and economic issues, including trade tariffs, artificial intelligence development, and Taiwan-related tensions. President Trump arrived in Beijing alongside several prominent U.S. business executives, raising optimism that diplomatic engagement could improve relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Elsewhere in Asia, markets saw mixed movement. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s KOSPI both posted gains of around 0.2%, with the Korean market continuing its strong recent momentum. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 0.7%, boosted by a sharp rally in Alibaba shares after the company announced plans to significantly increase investment in artificial intelligence over the next three years.
Meanwhile, Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.1%, extending its losing streak as investors remained cautious over inflation risks linked to the Iran conflict. Singapore’s Straits Times Index and India’s Nifty 50 futures also edged lower amid concerns about elevated crude oil prices and potential supply disruptions.
