Asia-Pacific markets declined on Thursday as investors assessed United States President Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on autos, semiconductors, and pharmaceutical imports.
Trump stated that the duties could be implemented as soon as April 2 but did not clarify whether they would target specific countries or apply broadly.
By 11:55 am AEDT (12:55 am GMT) Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.9%, extending its losing streak to four consecutive sessions. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.9%, while South Korea's Kospi 200 dipped 0.6%.
Among data releases, Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate came in at 4.1% in January from 4.0% in December, while the South Korean producer price index rose 1.7% year-on-year, maintaining December’s growth rate.
Despite concerns over potential trade disruptions, U.S. stocks continued their upward momentum. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2% to 6,144.2, marking its second consecutive record close. The index also set a new all-time high during the trading session. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.1% to settle at 20,056.3, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 71.3 points, or 0.2%, to close at 44,627.6.
Investors also analysed minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting, which reinforced the central bank’s cautious approach toward interest rate cuts.
In commodity markets, Brent crude oil rose 0.36% to US$76.11 per barrel, while gold edged down 0.02% to $2,935.41 per ounce.
In China, stocks moved higher despite regional weakness. The Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.8% to close at 3,351.5, while the CSI 300 advanced 0.7% to 3,940.2.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index edged down 0.1% to 22,944.2, while India’s BSE SENSEX remained flat at 75,939.2.
European markets ended the session lower as trade uncertainties weighed on sentiment. The FTSE 100 in the United Kingdom declined 0.6% to 8,712.53. In Germany, the DAX dropped 1.8% to 22,433.6, while France’s CAC 40 fell 1.2% to 8,110.5.
