All the Asian equity indices are trading down in the early deals on Friday as reports of more chaos in the Trump administration tested investors' nerves, already frayed by fears that US tariffs could hurt the global economy and trigger a trade war. The Japanese market slipped into negative territory after opening higher as worries about trade wars and news that Mueller has subpoenaed Trump's businesses weighed on investors’ sentiments. Meanwhile, China and Hong Kong stocks slipped as reports of further chaos in the Trump administration added to concerns about rising US protectionism.
Nikkei 225 declined 145.41 points or 0.67% to 21,658.54, Hang Seng dropped 98.61 points or 0.31% to 31,442.49, Taiwan Weighted dipped 60.39 points or 0.55% to 10,958.06, Jakarta Composite slipped 36.04 points or 0.57% to 6,285.86, KOSPI Index contracted 9.5 points or 0.38% to 2,482.88, Shanghai Composite crumbled 3.85 points or 0.12% to 3,287.26, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI decreased 2.59 points or 0.14% to 1,842.68 and Straits Times dropped 6.19 points or 0.18% to 3,511.54
