Markets rose on Friday, setting the stage for their fourth straight positive day, as investors continued to look for signs of easing trade tensions.

The optimism was fueled, in part, on reports that China was looking into exempting some American goods from its 125 percent tariff.

At the same time, the Chinese government said it was not engaged in trade negotiations with officials in Washington, pushing back against President Trump’s claim that the U.S.-China talks were underway. “The United States should not confuse the public,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.