In Asian Equity Markets stocks traded mixed on Wednesday after global markets advanced overnight as recent trade fears waned. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.33 percent. Financials, oil producers and shippers gained, but declines were seen in consumer goods sectors. Greater China markets traded higher, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index tacking on 0.81 percent on the back of gains in the energy, materials and technology sectors. The Shanghai composite rose by 0.9 percent. Meanwhile, in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 was off by 0.31 percent as most sub-indexes traded in the red, although energy and materials rose. The heavily weighted financials sector slid 0.76 percent.

In Currency Markets the US dollar traded near a two-week low against a basket of currencies on Wednesday after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s promise to cut import tariffs eased concerns about a U.S.-China trade conflict. The dollar’s index versus a basket of six major peers last stood at 89.588, trading within sight of a low of 89.544 set on Tuesday, its lowest level since March 28. Later on Wednesday, the dollar could take its cues from U.S. consumer inflation data for March, as well as the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s March meeting. The euro held steady at $1.2360, hovering near Tuesday’s high of $1.2378, its strongest level since March 28.

In Commodities Markets oil prices on Wednesday eased away from 2014 highs reached the previous session as escalating Middle East tensions were offset by increasing inventories and production in the United States. Brent crude futures rose to $70.78 per barrel, down 26 cents, or 0.4 percent, from their last close. Brent jumped more than 3 percent on Tuesday to hit its highest level since late 2014, at $71.34 a barrel. U.S. WTI crude futures were at $65.38 a barrel, down 13 cents, or 0.2 percent from their last settlement. The United States and its allies are considering air strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces following a suspected poison gas attack last weekend.

In US Equity Markets stocks climbed on Tuesday as investor concerns about rising trade tensions between the United States and China eased after Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to cut import tariffs. The S&P 500 gained 1.67 percent, to 2,656.87 and the Nasdaq Composite added 2.07 percent, to 7,094.30. The energy index had the highest percentage gain among the S&P’s 11 major sectors, adding 3.3 percent. Only utilities and real estate, which are sensitive to interest rates, posted losses. Sprint Corp shares jumped 17.1 percent after reports that the company had restarted merger talks with T-Mobile US Inc. T-Mobile shares rose 5.7 percent.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields rose on Tuesday, sparked by a rally in stocks after a friendlier tone from Chinese President Xi Jinping helped ease trade tensions and following data showing a pick-up in U.S. inflation at the producer level. The U.S. 10-year yields were up slightly at 2.802 percent, from 2.789 percent late on Monday. U.S. 30-year yields rose to 3.023 percent , from Monday’s 3.017 percent. On the front end of the curve, U.S. 2-year yields edged up to 2.315 percent, compared with 2.286 percent on Monday.