In-depth: Global stocks

증시 대담

It's time now for a look at the market action so far this week.
And on this Wednesday we're joined by Dr. Hwang Seiwoon, research fellow at the Korea Market Institute.
Thanks for making time today.
You're welcome.
Markets in the U.S. and really around the world have been rising for a few days in a row now. Would you say investors are breathing a sigh of relief?
The global stock markets are cautiously optimistic, hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. After a strong start to the week, and a big rebound last quarter, investors appear less eager to keep driving global stock prices higher.
Most U.S. equities finished up from the lows of the day on Tuesday as investors reassessed the strongest first-quarter rally in almost a decade. The Dow was dragged down for the first time in four days. After being lower most of the session, the S&P 500 finished little changed. Technology shares pushed the Nasdaq higher.
In Asia, Hong Kong shares outperformed, while Japanese, Chinese and Korean equities seeing more modest gains. After a report that the U.S. and China have ironed out most of their differences in trade negotiations, investors are looking for more positive signs to sustain the rally.
What happened today on Korea's main index, the KOSPI? It looks like this positivity is carrying over here too.
The Korean equities traded higher as foreigners expanded their stock purchases ahead of trade talks between the United States and China this week.
KOSPI rose 0.51 percent at close, and KOSDAQ gained 1.00%. Foreigners bought a net 118.82 billion won worth of stocks, offsetting a combined 115.17 billion won worth of stock selling by domestic institutions and individuals.
Tech, auto and steel stocks led gains, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics rising 1.09 percent, top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. climbing 2.10 percent and leading steelmaker POSCO gaining 1.12 percent.
The Korean won was trading at 1,133.80 won against the U.S. dollar, up 2.60 won from the previous session's close.
Now on Wednesday in Washington, the U.S. and China are going to be resuming their trade talks. The IMF and others have said this trade war is depressing the outlook for the world economy. What are the issues at stake here in these talks, and depending on what happens, how will the markets respond?
Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director, said global growth has lost momentum since the start of the year, leaving the world economy in a “precarious” position.
The global economy has weakened since the IMF last updated its forecast in late January, though a recession isn’t likely in the near term, Lagarde said Tuesday in remarks prepared for a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington.
She also mentioned that while confidence has been boosted by the Federal Reserve’s switch to a more patient stance and signs of a trade deal between the U.S. and China, investors remain concerned the global expansion may be running out of steam a decade after the financial c