Updates

** Shares of U.S. credit card firms rise, signaling a rebound, as investors keenly await any sign of the U.S. opening up for negotiations over President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs

** American Express AXP.N up 4.4%, Visa V.N rises 4.1%, and Mastercard MA.N up 3.7%

** China said on Tuesday it will never accept the "blackmail nature" of the U.S. in response to Trump's threat to ratchet up tariffs on imports from China to more than 100%

** China had matched the "reciprocal" duties announced by Trump

** Payment firms face the risk of weak credit card spending, as consumer confidence is expected to take a hit from economic uncertainties stoked by the trade war

** Since Trump announced tariffs last Wednesday, as of last close, AXP has fallen 14.9%, MA down 11.3%, and V has fallen 9.8%

(Reporting by Ateev Bhandari in Bengaluru)

((ateev.bhandari@thomsonreuters.com))