In Asian Equity Markets the Nikkei 225 was in positive territory, up by 0.41 percent, with the country’s shipping sector rising 2.53 percent. South Korea’s Kospi was also in positive territory as it traded higher by 0.27 percent, with industry heavyweight Samsung Electronics rising 0.54 percent. The ASX 200, meanwhile, traded up by 0.62 percent as the market Down Under continued its recovery from last week’s political turmoil. Vitamin maker Blackmores’ stock was up by 8.84 percent after the company earlier reported a 18.6 percent rise in its full-year profit.

In Currency Markets the US dollar was steady against the euro and a basket of major currencies after the United States and Mexico agreed to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement, boosting optimism for an easing of global trade tensions. Against the yen, the dollar was 0.2 percent higher at 111.28 yen per dollar. The Canadian dollar was about 0.1 percent higher at $1.297 after slipping almost half a percent on Monday. The Mexican peso edged about 0.1 percent lower at 18.795 per dollar. On Monday, the peso closed about 0.8 percent higher after initially rising about 1.2 percent on the news that the United States and Mexico had reached agreement.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose on Tuesday as risks of supply disruptions from places such as Venezuela, Africa and Iran triggered expectations of a tightening market. International Brent crude oil futures were at $76.37 per barrel, up 16 cents, or 0.2 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 9 cents, or 0.1 percent, at $68.96 a barrel. Despite some concerns about an economic slowdown because of the U.S.-China trade conflict, crude supplies are relatively tight due to disruptions as well as voluntary restraints on output by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

In US Equity Markets a broad-based rally pushed the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq to record-high closes for the second straight session on Monday as a trade agreement reached between the United States and Mexico buoyed investor sentiment. Technology stocks led the Nasdaq above the 8,000 mark for the first time and the sector provided the biggest boost to the S&P 500. The S&P 500 gained 0.77 percent, to 2,896.74 and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.91 percent, to 8,017.90. Luxury retailer Tiffany & Co ended the session down 1.3 percent ahead of its second-quarter earnings report expected early on Tuesday.

In Bond Markets Japanese government bond prices slipped on Tuesday as domestic stocks advanced to 11-week highs and reduced the allure of safe-haven debt. The 10-year and 20-year JGB yields rose by half a basis point each to 0.095 percent and 0.610 percent , respectively. The 30-year yield also climbed half a basis point, to 0.830 percent. Tuesday’s liquidity-enhancing JGB auction failed to attract strong investor demand in the wake of rallying stocks. The bid-to-cover ratio, a gauge of demand, at the 500 billion yen ($4.53 billion) auction slipped to 2.26 from 3.13 at the previous sale.