A trader works at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, the United States, on Aug. 14, 2019. Photo:Xinhua

Chinese mainland shares recouped their losses on Thursday from the previous day, with the flagship Shanghai Composite Index rising 0.91 percent, or 27.99 points to close at 3,094.88 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed up 1.79 percent, or 191.3 points, at 10,898.17 points and the ChiNext index soared 2.71 percent to end above 1,900 points.

Technology stocks at large led Thursday's gain while gold and oil shares posted losses as US President Donald Trump's remarks on Iran on Thursday (Beijing time) defused investor fears of a looming hot war as US-Iran tensions escalate. Iran appears to be standing down, Trump said. US stocks showed their stunning strength on Wednesday, with the NASDAQ and S&P 500 both hitting new highs intraday.

The motivational message from China's Ministry of Commerce shortly after Thursday's market close, it is believed, would add fuel to the sizzling US equity market.

The commerce ministry announced that top Chinese trade negotiator Liu He is scheduled to travel to the US next week to sign the first phase of a trade deal, confirming Trump's announcement on New Year's Eve that the deal signing is set for January 15.

It now seems that US stocks, having quickly recovered from Tuesday's losses due to less feared geopolitical conflict, are set to continue making history.