Market Movements Amid Tariff Tensions

As the US administration prepares to impose a fresh round of tariffs, major markets in the Asia-Pacific region exhibited mixed performances on Wednesday. Japan's Nikkei 225 initially slipped to its lowest point since September, affecting automakers across Japan and South Korea.

Regional Market Highlights

By 7:16 am CET, the Nikkei 225 had recovered slightly, growing by 0.39%. Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 saw a modest rise of 0.12% by the close of its trading session. In contrast, South Korea's Kospi experienced a decline, dropping by 0.70% at 7:17 am CET.

China's Market Performance

Mainland China presented a mixed picture with the Shenzhen Composite improving by 0.37% at 7:02 am CET, while the Shanghai Composite remained flat by 7:18 am CET. Hong Kong's Hang Seng also showed little movement during the session.

Currency Market Update

In the currency markets, the dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen, rising by 0.21% at 7:19 am CET, trading at ¥149.9090.