US equity markets settled higher amid persistent optimism around the US-China trade negotiations albeit the benchmark indices settled off their session highs - Dow up +118-points or +0.46% The broader S&P500 added +0.30%, NASDAQ eked out a +0.06% gain (to 7,420.38) but failed to hold above 7,431.50 which would have marked the technology-centric indice's exit from bear market territory. The South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday (13 February) that Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with US delegates on Friday as both sides try to strike a deal. . President Trump earlier said that he could be tempted to push back the 1 March deadline for reaching a trade agreement with China if the two sides were close to a deal.
