SHANGHAI - Asian shares and US stock futures rose on Friday after US President Donald Trump said he would meet with China's top trade negotiator, while the pound retreated after rallying on revived hopes of a possible Brexit deal.
On the Singapore bourse, gainers outnumbered losers 68 to 28, after about 41.9 million shares worth S$38.2 million changed hands. Also buttressing the benchmark index were the financials - UOB gained almost 1 per cent, or 25 cents to $25.74, OCBC Bank rose 0.9 per cent, or nine cents to $10.74, and DBS added 0.6 per cent, or 15 cents to $24.86.
IG market strategist Pan Jingyi noted that the US-China trade fuelled optimism will be the key driver for Asia markets, as investors await the resumption of Friday's talks. A White House official said the talks had gone"probably better than expected" and a US Chamber of Commerce official briefed by both sides raised the possibility of a currency agreement this week.