Sawt Falasteen - Asian markets boosted as 'Big Progress' made in Japan tariff talks

Investors are keeping a nervous eye on Washington for the next three months as governments scramble to cut deals to avert crippling tariffs the US president unveiled on his April 2 "Liberation Day" but then delayed for 90 days.

With Japanese companies the biggest investors into the United States, Tokyo's negotiations are of particular interest to markets -- with some describing it as the canary in the coal mine -- and traders took heart from early signs.

Trump posted on social media that there had been "Big Progress!" and Tokyo's envoy Ryosei Akazawa said: "I understand that the US wants to make a deal within the 90 days. For our part, we want to do it as soon as possible."

And while Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba warned that the talks "won't be easy", he said the president had "expressed his desire to give the negotiations... the highest priority".

Hopes that Trump's blistering tariffs can be pared back have helped temper some of the disquiet on markets after a rout at the start of the month fuelled by talk of a global recession and an upending of historic trading norms.

Some have said there were rumblings that the target of his most painful measures could be open to dialogue, with Bloomberg reporting that China wants to see some measures beforehand, including reining in some cabinet members' anti-Beijing comments.

Shares in Tokyo rose more than one percent with Hong Kong, Singapore and Mumbai, while Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Bangkok and Jakarta were also up. Taipei edged down along with London, Paris and Frankfurt.

However, uncertainty continues to prevail on trading floors after a selloff on Wall Street -- and gold hitting a fresh record above $3,357 -- sparked by Powell's warning over the impact of the tariffs.

He said that, while the Fed's employment and inflation goals were largely in balance at this point, policymakers could find themselves in the "challenging scenario" depending on how things evolve.

"Tariffs are highly likely to generate at least a temporary rise in inflation," he told the Economic Club of Chicago, adding that the inflationary effects "could also be more persistent".

He added: "You'll probably see continued volatility."

Chris Weston at Pepperstone said: "Powell has again frustrated some, who perhaps optimistically felt he might change the messaging from his recent communique and to open the door to cuts in the June (policy) meeting, a factor that is priced at 80 percent by interest rate swaps traders."

The World Trade Organization warned on Wednesday of "severe negative consequences" for the world because of the trade war, with boss Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala saying she was "very concerned" and that China-US volumes could collapse as much as 81 percent.

Oil prices extended gains after Washington on Wednesday sanctioned a second China-based "teapot" refinery for purchasing Iranian crude as it continues its "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran.

The State Department said the measures against Shandong Shengxing Chemical were part of the US president's campaign to "drive Iran's illicit oil exports" to zero.

- Key figures at 0810 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.4 percent at 34,377.60 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.6 percent at 21,395.14 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,280.34 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 8,240.16

Dollar/yen: UP at 142.79 yen from 142.12 yen on Wednesday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1378 from $1.1395

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3241 from $1.3235

Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.92 pence from 86.06 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.9 percent at $63.03 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.8 percent at $66.35 per barrel

New York - Dow: DOWN 1.7 percent at 39,669.39 (close)

G.AbuGhazaleh--SF-PST