Market Overview

As the world watches the unfolding US-China trade standoff, major stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region showed resilience, trading mostly higher on Tuesday. Investors are closely monitoring the situation, especially after US President Donald Trump's decision to pause his tariff policy against Canada and Mexico, while keeping tariffs on China in place. This move has prompted Beijing to implement retaliatory measures, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing trade negotiations.

Market Movements

Japan's Nikkei 225 saw an increase of 0.76%, or 292 points, by 7:09 am CET, buoyed by a 0.35% rise in the dollar against the yen. South Korea's Kospi followed suit, growing by 1.15%. Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed flat, reflecting a cautious optimism among investors. The markets in mainland China remained closed for Lunar New Year celebrations, but Hong Kong's Hang Seng index soared by 1.95%, or 394 points, at 7:11 am CET, signaling a strong start to the year.