In Asian Equity Markets indices were higher in Wednesday morning trade following a report that said the U.S. and China are closer to reaching a trade agreement. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 0.93 percent, as shares of Chinese tech giant Tencent jumped more than 2 percent. The Nikkei 225 in Japan added 0.82 percent in morning trade as shares of index heavyweight Fast Retailing rose more than 4 percent. Over in South Korea, the Kospi gained 0.37 percent as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix saw their stock jump more than 1 percent each.

In Currency Markets the U.S. dollar was steady against its peers on Wednesday, as the recent bounce in U.S. bond yields stalled on increasingly dovish rhetoric from global central banks. The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday left interest rates unchanged as expected but its statements were seen by some as hints toward a shift to easier monetary policy going forward. The Australian dollar, which declined significantly after the RBA policy decision on Tuesday, extended losses to stand at $0.7057, down 0.2 percent on the day.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose for a fourth day on Wednesday, holding firm despite an industry report showing that U.S. inventories rose unexpectedly last week, with supply cuts and sanctions supporting the market. Brent futures rose 22 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $69.59 a barrel, after earlier reaching $69.68, the highest since Nov. 13. The global benchmark closed half a percent higher on Tuesday. U.S. WTI crude rose 6 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $62.64 cents a barrel. On Tuesday, the contract rose 1.61 percent, to settle at $62.58 a barrel, after touching $62.75, its highest level since Nov. 7.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 stock index paused on Tuesday, taking a breather from Monday’s strong quarterly kickoff as a decline in shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc weighed and economic data did little to ease growth concerns. Walgreens shares fell 12.8% after the drugstore chain cut its 2019 profit growth forecast and reported a quarterly profit that missed analyst estimates. The S&P 500 consumer staples index, which includes Walgreens, fell 0.8%. The S&P 500 gained 0.05 points to 2,867.24, and the Nasdaq Composite added 19.78 points, or 0.25%, to 7,848.69.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields fell on Tuesday, with benchmark yields receding from one-week highs as a result of buying from bargain-minded investors and safe-haven demand on renewed worries about Brexit. The yields on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes were 2.4813%, down 1.6 basis points on the day. On Monday, it reached 2.5080%, the highest since March 22.  Last Thursday, 10-year yields hit a 15-month low of 2.340%.