Sawt Falasteen - Asian markets extend gains on US trade deal hopes

Investors have been on a roll in recent weeks on bets that governments will eventually hammer out pacts with Donald Trump ahead of the US president's August 1 deadline.

The mood has been upbeat since news that Japan had reached a deal to lower sweeping tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent, including those on the country's crucial car sector.

The breakthrough fanned hopes that others were in the pipeline.

However, there is talk that the European Union is edging towards an agreement. Reports say Brussels could get something similar to Japan, with tariffs cut to 15 percent -- from the threatened 30 percent.

The Financial Times said the two would waive tariffs on some products, including aircraft, spirits and medical devices.

That came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said negotiations were making progress, with talks planned later in the day between the bloc's top trade negotiator and his American counterpart.

Analysts said a deal with Washington's biggest trading entity would provide a massive boost to equities

However, failure to reach a deal, triggering Trump's 30 percent levies on August 1, could cause havoc on markets, analysts warned.

France has been loudest in insisting Brussels must show it is willing to deploy its trade weapon, known as the anti-coercion instrument -- allowing officials to take measures such as import and export restrictions on goods and services.

Neil Wilson at Saxo Markets warned that would end up "effectively killing trade between the two... the nuclear option is on the table it seems, but for the moment expectation seems to be veering towards a deal".

After another record day for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq on Wall Street, Asia picked up the baton and ran.

Tokyo piled on two percent, having jumped more than three percent Wednesday on the trade deal, while Hong Kong continued its standout year with another advance.

Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei and Manila also rose.

Traders are also keeping an eye on developments in Tokyo after Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba denied discussing his resignation with party elders on Wednesday, as speculation about his future intensified following a weekend election debacle.

Despite the saga, the yen extended its gains, briefly hitting 145.86 per dollar as the trade deal allows investors to turn their attention to the Bank of Japan's policy meeting next week hoping for guidance on its next interest rate hike.

The unit had been sitting around 147.90 before the deal.

Bank officials have held off rocking the boat on the issue amid tariff uncertainty, but observers say the agreement can allow them to reconsider lifting in October.

- Key figures at around 0230 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 2.0 percent at 41,983.50 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.3 percent at 25,606.58

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 3,588.11

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 146.06 yen from 146.47 yen on Wednesday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1772 from $1.1777

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3582 from $1.3579

Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.66 pence from 86.68 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.3 percent at $65.47 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.3 percent at $68.71 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 1.1 percent at 45,010.29 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 9,061.49 (close)

X.AbuJaber--SF-PST