Asian stocks surged on Friday, with indices in Australia, Japan, and Hong Kong advancing as investors welcomed a potential delay in U.S. reciprocal tariffs. President Trump's order to consider tariffs on trading partners, particularly Japan and South Korea, initially sparked concerns. However, Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick's statement that the process could extend until April offered a window for negotiations, boosting market sentiment. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 saw significant gains, with tech giants like Tesla and Nvidia rallying over 3%. This positive mood in Asian markets reflects growing optimism that diplomatic solutions may prevail in the ongoing trade discussions.
Sources: Financial Post, Moneycontrol