Chinese stocks firmed after the country’s central bank announced an easing in policy on Friday. Chinese stocks firmed after the country’s central bank announced an easing in policy on Friday, with 100 basis points of cuts to bank reserve requirements freeing up around $116 billion for new lending. Chinese officials also meet their U.S. counterparts for trade negotiations starting later Monday, the first face-to-face talks of the year. Japan’s Nikkei shot up 3.1 percent, helped in part by a pullback in the yen, while South Korea added 1.5 percent. Gold benefited from the diminished risk of U.S. rate hikes and held at $1,287.78, just off a six-month top.

Source: Mint January 07, 2019 01:52 UTC