Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific.

Global AI stocks rallied as early signs of success for Meta Platforms Inc.'s new personal agent revived optimism over chip demand, bolstering the sector after a recent rough patch driven by calls for slower AI development. The rally followed Meta's Muse AI Agent climbing to the top of rankings on Apple Inc.'s free applications list after its launch earlier this month. Lower oil prices, amid hopes for diplomatic progress in the Iran war, further supported risk appetite. The moves are also offering reprieve for the hot AI trade, which had come under pressure from rich valuations and, more recently, concerns among tech leaders over the existential threat posed by advanced models. Muse's early traction is easing some of those fears by offering fresh evidence that AI demand remains robust. We speak to Bloomberg's MLIV Strategist Mark Cranfield

And -  US and Chinese officials offered upbeat assessments of their talks on artificial intelligence, trade and investment, signaling a mutual desire to steady ties ahead of this week's summit between leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. China's top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, said the talks were held in a "good atmosphere" as he left JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s headquarters in New York on Sunday, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lauded "very successful" discussions. China's official Xinhua News Agency called the exchange "candid, in-depth and constructive." Bloomberg's Haidi Stroud-Watts spoke to Geoff Raby, Former Australian Ambassador to China for a lookahead.