Bonds & Stocks
The latest wave of enthusiasm for technology stocks carried into Friday, lifting US stock futures. Small caps slowed their advance. Nasdaq 100 contracts rose 0.5% to outperform those for the S&P 500. The trend was also evident in premarket trading, with names such as Micron Technology Inc. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. rising more than 2%.
Economy
The US and Taiwan agreed to a long-sought trade pact that would lower tariffs on goods from the self-governed island to 15% and see Taiwanese semiconductor companies increase financing for American operations by $500 billion. Under the terms announced Thursday, duties on Taiwanese shipments would fall from the previous 20% rate — putting them on par with Japan and South Korea.
World
China and Canada reached a wide-ranging agreement to lower trade barriers and rebuild ties, signaling a pivot in Canadian foreign policy and a break from alignment with Donald Trump’s trade agenda.