Seoul Gazette - Stocks rise as stability returns, autos surge on exemption hope

However, the US president's unorthodox approach to trade diplomacy continues to fuel uncertainty among investors, with speculation over new levies on high-end technology and pharmaceuticals dampening sentiment.

The announcement last week of exemptions for smartphones, laptops, semiconductors and other electronics -- all key Chinese-made products -- provided a little comfort, though Trump's suggestion they would be temporary tempered the optimism.

Traders gave a muted reaction to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's remarks Monday that a China-US deal could be done in an apparent olive branch as the two economic powerhouses trade tariff threats.

His comments came as Trump has hammered China with duties of up to 145 percent, while Beijing has imposed retaliatory measures of 125 percent.

"There's a big deal to be done at some point", Bessent said when asked by Bloomberg TV about the possibility that the world's largest economies would decouple. "There doesn't have to be" decoupling, he said, "but there could be".

Meanwhile, Trump aide Kevin Hassett said the White House had received "more than 10 deals where there's very, very good, amazing offers made to us", but did not specify from which countries they came.

After a broadly positive day on Wall Street, Asian markets pushed higher.

Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei, Mumbai, Manila and Jakarta all rallied, with London and Frankfurt also climbing but Paris edged down.

The gains were boosted by a rally in autos after Trump said he was "very flexible" and "looking at something to help some of the car companies" hit by his 25 percent tariff on all imports.

In Asia, Toyota jumped 3.7 percent and Hyundai jumped more than four percent, while in Europe Stellantis -- maker of Peugeot, Jeep and Fiat -- surged five percent in Milan and Volkswagen piled on close to three percent.

And South Korea's announcement of plans to invest an additional $4.9 billion in the country's semiconductor sector gave a little lift to chip giants Samsung and SK hynix.

Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller provided some support to markets after suggesting he would back the central bank to cut interest rates to help the economy, instead of focusing on higher inflation.

He pointed out that prices could see a transitory rise because of the tariffs but added that if Trump reverted to the crippling tariffs included in his "Liberation Day" on April 2 then officials would be ready to step in.

"If the slowdown is significant and even threatens a recession, then I would expect to favour cutting the... policy rate sooner, and to a greater extent than I had previously thought," he said in comments prepared for an event Monday.

"In my February speech, I referred to this as the world of 'bad news' rate cuts. With a rapidly slowing economy, even if inflation is running well above two percent, I expect the risk of recession would outweigh the risk of escalating inflation, especially if the effects of tariffs in raising inflation are expected to be short lived."

However, OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong warned central bankers would face some tough choices.

"Combination of slowing growth and persistent inflation, hallmarks of a stagflation environment, poses a significant challenge for the US Federal Reserve, which may find it increasingly difficult to implement counter-cyclical monetary policies to support the economy," he said in a commentary.

- Key figures around 0810 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.8 percent at 34,267.54 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.2 percent at 21,466.27 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 3,267.66 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.7 percent at 8,192.85

Dollar/yen: UP at 143.40 yen from 143.09 yen on Monday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1349 from $1.1356

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3217 from $1.3189

Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.88 pence from 86.08 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.6 percent at $61.89 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.5 percent at $65.21 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.8 percent at 40,524.79 (close)

Z.Jin--SG