Asian markets rise as investors track trade talks, US shutdown

With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Donald Trump digging their heels in over the president's budget demands there is little sign the US government shutdown will end any time soon. (Photo: AFP/Alex Wong)

However, the US government shutdown continued to rankle, with Democrats and Donald Trump digging their heels in over the president's border wall budget demand, while a White House official warned it could hammer the world's top economy.

For a second day, equities swung to and fro, with few solid catalysts to drive trade, though Wall Street provided a positive lead as all three main indexes ended higher following upbeat earnings from the likes of market titans Procter & Gamble and IBM.

Hong Kong, Shanghai and Sydney all ended up 0.4 per cent, while Seoul jumped 0.8 per cent and Singapore added 0.5 per cent.

There were also advances in Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta though Tokyo closed 0.1 per cent lower.

In early trade London rose 0.2 per cent, Paris was flat and Frankfurt fell 0.2 per cent.

Trump on Wednesday gave an upbeat assessment of the state of affairs in the trade stand-off, saying "we're doing very well in the negotiations" and that China "wants to make a deal".

However, his remarks come in a week that has seen the White House deny Financial Times and CNBC reports that officials had rejected Beijing's offer of preparatory discussions ahead of high-level talks in Washington.

Earlier, Bloomberg said the two sides were struggling to see eye to eye on the delicate issue of intellectual property.

'VERY CLOSE TO ZERO'

The talks come as China struggles to reinvigorate its economy, which is growing at its weakest pace in almost three decades, while Trump is facing an increasingly bitter government shutdown just as the presidential campaign season gets into gear.

The impact of the shutdown - with Democrats refusing to provide Trump billions for his Mexico border wall - was laid out by the head of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, who warned the economy could grow "very close to zero" if it continued through March.

But Kevin Hassett said there would likely be a massive rebound as soon as the stand-off ended.

There seems no end in sight, with Trump hitting out at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after she disinvited him from the chamber for his upcoming State of the Union speech, citing security worries while parts of the government are not working.

Trump backed down late Wednesday, agreeing to delay the address until the shutdown, which is in its fifth week, has ended.

The pound is holding at two-month highs against the dollar, supported by a belief that Britain will not exit the EU without a deal, despite Prime Minister Theresa May's controversial agreement being soundly defeated by MPs last week.

Traders are increasingly "convinced that the 'worst' that might happen on Brexit is that May's previously doomed Withdrawal Agreement might actually get over the line if the 'hard Brexiteers' in her government become convinced that the alternative is a (delay in leaving), a second referendum and potentially no Brexit", said National Australia Bank's Ray Attrill.

- Key figures around 0820 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 20,574.63 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.4 per cent at 27,120.98 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4 per cent at 2,591.69 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 per cent at 6,848.47

Pound/dollar: DOWN at US$1.3065 from US$1.3068

Euro/dollar: DOWN at US$1.1374 from US$1.1383 at 2200 GMT

Dollar/yen: UP at ¥109.70 from ¥109.60

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 27 cents at US$52.35 per barrel

Oil - Brent Crude: DOWN 34 cents at US$60.80 per barrel

New York - DOW: UP 0.7 per cent at 24,575.62 (close)