Asia Stocks Cautious Before China Tariff Deadline; Australia Sets Record High
Most Asian stock markets were little changed on Monday as investors looked ahead to the looming expiration of the U.S.-China tariff truce, while Australian equities climbed to new highs on rate-cut expectations.
Trading activity was muted, with Japanese markets shut for a public holiday.
On Wall Street, major indexes ended Friday higher, capping a week of strong gains driven by optimism that the Federal Reserve could lower interest rates soon. U.S. futures edged up during Asian hours.
Tariff Truce in Focus
The agreement between Washington and Beijing, which has paused further tariff escalations, is set to expire on Aug. 12. While traders are hopeful for an extension, uncertainty remains.
Chinese exports rose 7.2% year-on-year in July,…
