Bloomberg Daybreak Asia

Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. Asian stocks fell as investors lightened their positions ahead of the weekend while awaiting progress on extending the US-Iran ceasefire, after a rally driven by expectations the truce would be prolonged. We spoke to Winnie Hsu, Bloomberg's Asia Equities Reporter. Plus -  President Donald Trump struck an optimistic tone for prospects that the US and Iran could clinch a permanent ceasefire as the two sides discuss an extended truce ahead of its expiration next week. "It's looking very good that we're going to make a deal with Iran, and it's going to be a good deal," Trump told reporters at the White House Thursday. Talks between Washington and Tehran could resume this weekend, he said. We heard from Will Todman, CSIS Chief of Staff of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department. He spoke to Bloomberg TV Hosts Haidi Stroud-Watts and Shery Ahn.

Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. Asian stocks tracked Wall Street higher as optimism around a potential US-Iran ceasefire and robust corporate earnings buoyed sentiment. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index opened 0.4% higher on Thursday as traders bet a de-escalation of the Middle East conflict will ease oil prices and lift economic growth. That was after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indexes both closed at record highs, with Bank of America Corp. and Morgan Stanley leading financials higher after stronger-than-expected revenue. We spoke to Paul Dobson, Bloomberg's Executive Editor for Asia Markets. Plus - The US and Iran are considering a two-week ceasefire extension to allow more time to negotiate a peace deal, according to a person familiar with the matter, reducing the risk of a resumption of fighting despite an intensifying standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. With the initial truce due to expire next week, mediators between the warring sides are seeking technical talks to overcome the most contentious issues preventing a longer-term agreement, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters. Those include the reopening of Hormuz and the future of Iran's nuclear program. We heard from Linda Robinson, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. She spoke to Bloomberg's Paul Allen and Shery Ahn. 

Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. The US is pressing ahead with a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to curb Iran's oil exports, with more than 20 commercial ships transiting the strait in the last day. For more on what this means for the supply chain, we heard from Steve Hochman, Partner and Managing Director for the Americas at Nagarro.   Plus -  The US and Iran are looking to arrange a second round of peace talks in the coming days, while a standoff in the Strait of Hormuz worsens a global energy crisis and complicates diplomatic prospects. The objective is to hold more discussions before an April 7 ceasefire expires next week, according to people familiar with the matter. One proposal is to return to Pakistan, where initial negotiations were held last weekend, though other venues are being considered, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. For more, we heard from Mara Rudman, Miller Center Practitioner Senior Fellow and Former US State Department Deputy Envoy for Middle East Peace. She spoke to Bloomberg's Haidi Stroud-Watts and Avril Hong

Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. Asian stocks advanced as interest in artificial intelligence shares resurfaced, with Middle East tensions appearing to ease after President Donald Trump raised hopes for talks with Iran. Oil fell. Helping sentiment, Brent crude fell 1.5% to $97.85 a barrel on signs Washington and Tehran may revive peace talks following the start of a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. For more on the oil story, we spoke to Stephen Stapczynski, Bloomberg's Asia Energy Team Leader. Plus - the US and Iran are in discussions about holding another round of face-to-face negotiations after meetings in Islamabad over the weekend ended in failure, according to people familiar with the matter. The goal is to hold fresh talks before a two-week ceasefire announced April 7 expires next week, according to the people. We heard from William Roebuck, Former US Ambassador to Bahrain & Former US Deputy Special Envoy for the Global Coalition Against ISIS. He spoke to Bloomberg's Shery Ahn and Haidi Stroud-Watts.

Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific. Asian stocks rose as investors positioned ahead of US-Iran ceasefire talks scheduled to take place in Pakistan this weekend. Traders are watching the shaky ceasefire and planned US-Iran talks for clues on the market's next move, with sustaining the rally depending on confidence that the truce holds and oil flows smoothly through the Strait of Hormuz. We spoke to Lianting Tu, Managing Editor for Asia Equities. And for more analysis on the US-Iran talks ahead of this weekend, we heard from Jonathan Panikoff, Atlantic Council Director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative. He spoke to Bloomberg's Haidi Stroud-Watts and Shery Ahn.