Global Markets React to Trade Talks and Earnings

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Monday as investors awaited more details on the U.S.-China trade talks set to begin in Stockholm. The talks, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, are expected to discuss a trade-truce extension and other topics. Samsung Electronics' shares surged after announcing a $16.5 billion contract to supply semiconductors to Tesla, while Advantest Corp's shares plunged over 10% after disposing of treasury stocks. Other market highlights included Indonesian stocks hitting a 9-month high, Vietnamese stocks reaching a fresh high, and CK Hutchison seeking a Chinese firm as a 'major strategic investor' for its ports business.

The article discusses a busy week for market watchers with several significant events, including earnings reports from major tech companies, a Federal Reserve meeting, and the release of U.S. jobs data. U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade agreement with the European Union, imposing a 15% tariff on most European goods exported to the U.S. The S&P 500 had five consecutive record closes, and Palantir joined the top 20 most valuable U.S. companies. The article also highlights the Trump administration's increasing intervention in industries deemed important for national security.

U.S. equity futures rose on Monday as Wall Street prepared for a busy week featuring earnings from major tech companies, a key Federal Reserve meeting, President Donald Trump's Aug. 1 tariff deadline, and key inflation data. The gains followed Trump's announcement of a U.S.-EU trade deal with 15% tariffs on most European goods. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 171 points, or 0.38%, while S&P 500 futures were higher by 0.41% and Nasdaq 100 futures added 0.55%. The market is also expecting a batch of jobs-related data and inflation reports this week.