STI up 0.2% as new trade talks lift stocks

THE spectre of trade tensions that had hovered over markets for the past weeks lifted slightly on Thursday, as US-China relations showed signs of progressing.

Following reports that US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had invited top Chinese officials to restart trade talks, markets in Asia rose across the board.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index, which had fallen into a bear market in six straight days of losses, led the way with a 2.54 per cent jump.