While investors will closely watch reports in the coming week on jobs, inflation and gross domestic product, the data will be backward-looking amid heightened concern that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs announced on April 2 may inflict future damage on the economy.

The stock and bond markets are awaiting news on trade deals as the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite look to build on last week’s gains. More countries are in talks with Trump’s team, according to the White House,

China has advanced this year's stimulus plans but is holding off on fresh measures as it tries to maintain composure, betting on Washington blinking first in a protracted trade war. The Communist Party's elite decision-making body,

Beijing appears to be bedding in for a protracted battle with the US over tariffs. The Chinese government laid out policies Monday to aid its exporters affected by the trade war, including loan support for troubled firms and measures to further boost domestic consumption.

China on Monday said it was on the right side of history in its gruelling trade war with the United States. Recall that the US President Donald Trump, since returning to the presidency in January, has imposed 10 per cent tariffs on most US trading partners and a separate 145 per cent levy on many products from China.