Global Markets Rally Amid Trade Policy Speculations

Asian stock markets rose following Wall Street's lead as investors seek clarity on U.S. trade policies under President Trump's administration. Meanwhile, new tariffs targeting Venezuela's oil and gas have affected oil prices, although relief came from agreements concerning Black Sea maritime security.

Asian stocks mirrored Wall Street's gains on Wednesday, while the U.S. dollar wavered amidst anticipation of forthcoming trade policies from President Trump's administration. An upcoming round of tariffs is slated for next week, raising market anxiety.

President Trump hinted at potential flexibility regarding these tariffs, indicating not all levies would be enforced by the April 2 deadline and some nations may receive exemptions. Additionally, Trump imposed secondary tariffs of 25% on countries purchasing oil or gas from Venezuela, initially impacting oil prices yet alleviated by U.S. maritime security agreements related to Ukraine.

Japan's Nikkei, South Korea's KOSPI, and Australian stocks experienced gains, whereas Hong Kong's Hang Seng and Chinese blue chips displayed mixed results. The U.S. S&P 500 futures saw a slight decline after modest gains by the cash index, reflecting persistent market uncertainty.

(With inputs from agencies.)