Asian markets presented a mixed performance as global uncertainty surrounding U.S. investments and President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war influenced trading sentiment. In Asia, the Nikkei 225 edged down by 0.3% to close at 34,174.38, signaling cautious activity in Japan. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 remained largely flat, advancing by less than 0.1% to 7,820.20.
South Korea’s Kospi saw a modest gain of 0.2%, reaching 2,493.19, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng experienced a slight decline of under 0.1% to 21,387.51. Meanwhile, China’s Shanghai Composite Index rose by 0.3%, closing at 3,301.59.
On Wall Street, the preceding day’s trading session saw significant setbacks. The S&P 500 fell by 2.4%, marking a 16% drop from its record high achieved two months prior. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged by 971 points, equating to a 2.5% decrease. Notably, sharp declines in companies like Tesla and Nvidia contributed to the Nasdaq Composite’s drop of 2.6%.
In an unusual market movement, U.S. government bonds and the dollar also depreciated as prices declined across American markets. Traditionally, Treasurys and the dollar tend to strengthen during periods of investor unease. However, current policies emerging from Washington are contributing to fears, potentially undermining their status as some of the world’s most secure investments.
