In Asian Equity Markets stocks gained on Thursday morning as hopes rise amid ongoing negotiations on the U.S.-China trade front. Mainland Chinese shares rose in early trade, as the Shanghai composite added 0.74%. Over in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index rose 0.1%. The Nikkei 225 in Japan rose 0.25%. Shares of Apple supplier Japan Display jumped more than 7% following a Reuters report that the company would supply organic light-emitting diode screens for the Apple Watch later this year.

In Currency Markets the euro held firm against the dollar on Thursday as hopes of a trade deal between the United States and China bolstered risk appetite globally, while the British pound was buoyed after the UK parliament approved legislation to seek a Brexit delay. The euro was last up 0.1 percent against the U.S. dollar at $1.1246. The single currency had fallen to its lowest levels in more than three weeks on Tuesday and neared $1.1177, which, if broken, would send the currency to its weakest level since June 2017.

In Commodities Markets oil prices fell on Thursday, with Brent edging away from the psychologically important $70 level after easing in the previous session on data showing a surprise build in U.S. inventories. Brent futures eased 2 cents to $69.29. On Wednesday, Brent dipped 6 cents, after touching $69.96, the highest since Nov. 12, when it last traded above $70. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 14 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $62.34 a barrel. The contract fell 12 cents in the previous session after briefly hitting $62.99, also the highest since November.

In US Equity Markets stocks edged higher on Wednesday, extending a strong start to the quarter as a rally among chipmaker shares provided a boost to the broader market on growing hopes of a trade deal between Washington and Beijing. The S&P 500 gained 0.21%, to 2,873.4 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.6%, to 7,895.55. Boeing Co capped gains on the Dow, with its shares falling 1.5% after Baird said it expects Wall Street to cut earnings estimates “considerably” after the company reports delivery numbers next week.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields rose on Wednesday to their highest in a week and a half, as hopes for a trade deal between China and the United States and a breakthrough for Brexit triggered a sell-off in the bond market. Yields on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes were 2.5133 percent, up 0.03 percentage point from Tuesday. During the session, yields hit a 1-1/2 week peak of 2.524 percent. Their premium over three-month bill rates grew to nearly 8.5 basis points from 4.5 basis points late on Tuesday.