Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific.

Oil gave up early gains and Asian stocks climbed as investors welcomed signs of diplomatic progress between the US and Iran. "Encouraging progress has been made including the creation of a mechanism for further technical talks," mediators Qatar and Pakistan said in a joint statement. The sides also established a communication line to avoid incidents and miscalculation, with the aim of ensuring safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Technical-level discussions will continue this week. We speak to Paul Dobson, Bloomberg's Executive Editor for Asia Markets.

Plus - for more on the market moves, Bloomberg TV hosts Yvonne Man and Avril Hong spoke to Cusson Leung, KGI International Wealth Management.

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Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week.

• In the US – a look ahead to the next U.S PCE and GDP data, along with a focus on 3 stocks for the week ahead.
• In the UK – a look ahead to London Climate Action Week.
• In Asia – a look ahead to Australia CPI data.

- Stuart Paul, US Economist with Bloomberg Economics, previews U.S PCE and GDP data.
- Avalon Pernell, Bloomberg Equities Reporter, focuses on 3 stocks for the week ahead.
- Joe Wertz, Bloomberg Weather and Climate Reporter, to preview London Climate Action Week.
- Olivia Rudgard, Bloomberg Green reporter, to preview London Climate Action Week.
- James McIntyre- Bloomberg Economist Covering Australia and New Zealand, previews Australia CPI data.

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Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific.

Asian stocks hovered near record highs in holiday-thinned trading as optimism that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will restore oil flows and curb inflation pressures buoyed risk appetite. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was little changed after five straight days of gains, while the chip-heavy Kospi was the top performer in the region, jumping 2.6%. A gauge of the sector in the US surged more than 6% to an all-time high, led by Intel Corp., after President Donald Trump said the company would work with Apple Inc. to design and manufacture semiconductors in the country. We speak to Lianting Tu, Bloomberg's Managing Editor for Asia Equities.

Plus - The US-Iran interim peace deal took effect and shipping started returning to the Strait of Hormuz as the US declared an end to its blockade and a complex negotiating period over Tehran's nuclear program began in earnest. US Vice President JD Vance told reporters Thursday at the White House that the 60-day clock for working out the contentious details in the so-called memorandum of understanding signed late Wednesday had started ticking. He downplayed concerns Iran could eventually impose tolls on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would turn the crucial transport chokepoint — widely considered international waters — into a moneymaker for Tehran. Bloomberg TV hosts Haidi Stroud-Watts and Shery Ahn speaks to Jessie Moritz, Senior Lecturer in Political Economy -- ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies.

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