AFP, NEW YORKWorld stocks on Tuesday closed out a notably profitable year, with Wall Street recording its best annual performances since 2013, boosted by hopes for a US-China trade deal. Key European markets showed increases of 25 percent or more for last year, partly thanks to late surges on receding recession fears and easing China-US trade tensions. However, Brexit-hit London trailed its peers with a 12 percent annual rise, less than half the percentage increase managed by Paris, Frankfurt and Milan. Prudential Financial Inc market strategist Quincy Krosby told reporters that the US-China detente could help decide the direction of the global economy next year. “Much of the enthusiasm in the market is based on the idea that global growth is going to begin to accelerate, albeit slowly,” she said.

Source: Taipei Times January 01, 2020 15:56 UTC