Asian equities climbed on Monday, led by Chinese benchmarks after news of tangible progress in U.S.-China trade talks, while a ceasefire between India and Pakistan buoyed Indian markets. U.S. futures also jumped, reflecting global optimism that a major tariff de-escalation is at hand.

Key Market Moves

• China: Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 rose 1.1%, Shanghai Composite climbed 0.9%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng outperformed with a 1.5% gain.

• Taiwan: TSMC (TW:2330/NYSE:TSM) shares added 1% after the semiconductor leader reported record-high April sales.

• India: Nifty 50 futures surged on the back of an India-Pakistan ceasefire, positioning the index for strong opening gains.

• Other Markets: Japan's Nikkei 225 edged up 0.1%, TOPIX was flat, and Australia's ASX 200 advanced 0.3%.

Drivers of the Rally

U.S.-China Trade Breakthrough

U.S. and Chinese negotiators in Geneva agreed on an “important consensus” to pause escalating tariffs and begin detailed talks to reduce America's trade deficit. U.S. futures rose sharply—Nasdaq 100 futures (NQM25) jumped nearly 2%—on the expectation that formal announcements on Monday will confirm significant tariff rollbacks.

South Asia De-Escalation

A ceasefire between India and Pakistan removed a key geopolitical overhang for investors in the region, underpinning gains in the Nifty 50 and supporting broader risk appetite across emerging markets.

Sector and Stock Highlights

• Pharmaceuticals: Pharmaceutical shares underperformed after President Trump vowed an executive order to lower U.S. drug prices.

• Semiconductors: TSMC's robust sales data reinforced confidence in the semiconductor cycle, lifting related stocks across Taiwan and overseas.

Contextual Data Insights

To identify which individual stocks and sectors are driving these moves, investors can consult the Market Biggest Gainers API for real-time insights into top performers across Asia's major exchanges.