Optimism over US-China deal sends STI up

ASIAN equity markets were in a cheery mood after reports indicated that the final details of the US-China "Phase One" deal could be ironed out by the end of the following week.

With markets preoccupied with developments on this front, it was of little to no surprise that investor appetite for risk assets picked up.

In Singapore, the Straits Times Index (STI) saw broad gains, regaining Wednesday's losses to end the trading session at 3,174.19, an advance of 14.4 points or 0.5 per cent.