In Asian Equity Markets indices traded higher Thursday morning amid positive developments on the U.S.-China trade front. Mainland Chinese stocks mostly rose in early trade, with the Shanghai composite up 0.18%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index, on the other hand, fell 0.25%. Shares of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited fell more than 2.5% following its bid for the London Stock Exchange Group. The Nikkei 225 rose 0.8%. Shares of Yahoo Japan jumped about 2% after reports that the company will launch a takeover bid for online clothing retailer Zozo.

In Currency Markets sterling was steady on Wednesday, lingering below a six-week high against the dollar reached on Monday, as investors assessed the chances Prime Minister Boris Johnson can strike a Brexit deal with the European Union before Oct. 31. The probability of a no-deal Brexit was still very much a concern for traders, given that Johnson stood firm on taking Britain out of the EU by the end of next month. Sterling was at $1.2347, down 0.1% . Against the euro, however, the pound gained 0.3% to 0.8907 .

In Commodities Markets oil prices jumped on Thursday, bouncing back from heavy losses in the previous session, buoyed by moves to ease trade tensions between Washington and Beijing and a decline in U.S. crude inventories to the lowest in nearly a year. Brent crude futures rose 41 cents, or 0.7%, to $61.22, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures gained 40 cents, or 0.7%, at $56.16. Crude inventories fell for a fourth straight week, decreasing 6.9 million barrels in the week to Sept. 6 – more than double analysts’ expectations of a 2.7 million-barrel drawdown.

In US Equity Markets indices moved higher on Wednesday, led by tariff-sensitive technology and industrial stocks after China extended an olive branch ahead of next month’s trade negotiations with the United States. The S&P 500 closed above the 3,000 mark for the first time since July 30. Chipmaker Micron Technology Inc rose 2.2% after Longbow Research upgraded the stock to “buy.” The Philadelphia SE Semiconductor Index .SOX was up 1.5%. The S&P 500 gained 0.72%, to 3,000.93 and the Nasdaq Composite added 1.06%, to 8,169.68.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields advanced on Wednesday for a third straight day, moving in lock step with the euro zone bond market, amid uncertainty about Thursday’s European Central Bank meeting, which could prove less aggressive in easing monetary policy. U.S. 10-year note yields rose to 1.74% from 1.702% late on Tuesday. Early in the session, 10-year yields hit a five-week high of 1.752%. U.S. two-year yields rose as well to 1.676% from Tuesday’s 1.664%, hitting a five-week high of 1.686%.