Market Overview

Asia-Pacific stock markets experienced a downturn in Friday's afternoon trading, reflecting the negative sentiment from Wall Street's recent sell-off. Despite President Donald Trump's decision to postpone tariffs on Mexico and Canada, investor anxiety remains high, especially with escalating tensions between the US and China. The market's reaction underscores the fragile state of global trade relations.

Key Market Movements

Japan's Nikkei saw a significant drop of 2.24%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's Kospi also decreased by 0.27% and 0.46% respectively. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 wasn't spared, closing 1.81% lower. In mainland China, the Shenzhen Composite and Shanghai Composite both recorded losses, highlighting the widespread impact of trade uncertainties across the region.

Currency Fluctuations

Amidst the market turmoil, the dollar weakened against the yen, marking a 0.19% decrease and trading at ¥147.5350. This movement reflects the broader financial market's apprehension towards ongoing trade disputes and their potential implications on global economic stability.