SHANGHAI/HONG KONG: China's stock markets surged, bond futures fell and its currency strengthened in early trade on Monday after a closely watched meeting between Chinese and US leaders produced a ceasefire in their countries' bruising trade conflict.
The deal agreed to in Buenos Aires by China and the United States halts additional tariffs that were due to take effect on Jan 1 and was lauded by both sides, though analysts caution that it represents a buying of time rather than a trade war resolution.
China's benchmark Shanghai Composite index jumped 2.3% shortly after the open. Blue-chip shares gained 2.7%.
Shares in Hong Kong also jumped, with the Hang Seng index adding 2.5% and the China Enterprises Index jumping 2.9%.
The rally in shares drove government bond futures lower with the 10-year treasury futures for March delivery, the most-traded contract, falling 0.26% at the open.
The White House says Beijing agreed to buy an unspecified but "very substantial" amount of agricultural, energy, industrial and other products, and that China and the US would launch new trade talks to address issues including technology transfer, intellectual property, non-tariff barriers, cyber theft and agriculture.
The White House also said the countries would hold additional talks, with an existing 10% tariffs on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods to be lifted to 25% if no deal was reached within 90 days.
China praised the "important consensus" reached in the deal, but did not mention the 90-day deadline.
Despite the differences in the wording of US and Chinese statements and uncertainty about some the details, the deal is a better outcome than many investors had expected.
"It is a positive surprise to the RMB and the stock market, which has largely priced in the no-deal case," Larry Hu, economist at Macquarie in Hong Kong.
China's onshore yuan strengthened to 6.9260 per dollar at 8.34am (Thailand time) after opening at 6.9278.
Its offshore counterpart also strengthened, and was trading at 6.9201 per dollar at 08.33pm.
"The progress in the Sino-US negotiations is slightly positive news for the market, and it will help revive risk appetite to support the yuan," said Stephen Chiu, FX and rates strategist at China Construction Bank (Asia) in Hong Kong. He said he expects the yuan to rebound and trade in a range of 6.8 to 6.9 per dollar on Monday.