Markets have rallied after a weekend agreement to reduce tariffs to 10% in China and 30% in the US is good news for companies, markets, and the US dollar; however, pharmaceutical stocks are in focus as US president Donald Trump tries to reduce drug prices.

China and the US will start high level trade talks on May 9 in Switzerland.

ASIC is asking for an independent expert to review a remediation plan for the trade reporting functions of Macquarie's futures dealing and OTC derivatives; ASIC commissioner Simone Constant said that the action "underscores" the regulator's concerns with the "recurrent" nature of Macquarie's failures.

The agreement, which will reduce tariffs across billions of dollars of goods, comes after three years of talks.

Japan's economy set to be hit amid some wild currency moves across the region, including from the Taiwan dollar.

The joint venture Al-Futtaim Willis has been in operation for five decades and is based in Dubai and Bahrain; after securing a reinsurance broking license in Saudi Arabia, WTW is continuing its expansion in the region.

A new loan for the Chinese conglomerate included a greenshoe option and involved Chinese and international banks.

The hire of Alun Evans from A&O Shearman will strengthen advising capabilities targeting private funds’ local market transactions.

The HKMA and CMU OmniClear are leading Hong Kong’s ambitions to internationalise the use of Chinese bonds in global trading. The development of the innovative infrastructure represents a breakthrough for Rmb repos, clearing, settlement and custody.

The Swedish firm has said that it is no longer providing financial guidance for 2025 and 2026, with job losses expected across its global workforce.