Asia-Pacific markets rallied on Monday, as the progress in China-U.S. tariff talks has sparked investors' optimism.
China and the United States announced in Geneva on Monday a series of tariff modification measures aimed at easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. The decision followed a two-day China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs, where both sides recognized the importance of their bilateral economic and trade relationship to both countries and the global economy, a joint statement issued by the two countries said, noting that both sides emphasized the need for a sustainable, long-term and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship.
Chinese stocks closed higher on the day, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 0.82 percent to 3,369.24 points.
The Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.72 percent higher at 10,301.16 points.
Hong Kong's stock market ended higher Monday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index up 2.98 percent to close at 23,549.46 points.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 3.01 percent to end at 8,559.23 points, and the Hang Seng Tech Index increased 5.16 percent to close at 5,447.35 points.
The TAIEX, the weighted index on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, gained 214.5 points, or 1.03 percent, to close at 21,129.54.
The Standard and Poor/ASX 200, Australia's benchmark share market index, closed at 8,233.53 points, up 0.03 percent.
New Zealand stock market's indicator, the Standard and Poor/NZX 50 index, jumped by 0.57 percent to 12,676.75.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, closed at 37,644.26, up 140.93 points, or 0.38 percent from the previous trading day.
South Korea's leading Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 30.06 points, or 1.17 percent, to 2,607.33 at the end of the trading day.
Asia-Pacific markets rally after positive China-US trade talks
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
