Asian markets ended lower on Tuesday after China announced tariffs on about $60 billion worth of US goods in retaliation for the US decision to raise tariffs on about $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. The office of US Trade Representative is taking necessary steps to raise duties of up to 25 percent on a further $300 billion worth of imports from China, with a public hearing likely on June 17, followed by at least a week of discussions, leading up to the G-20 summit. Japanese shares ended lower as investors remained fearful of a full-blow trade war. On economic front, Japan posted a current account surplus of 2,847.9 billion yen in March, official data showed - down 10.6 percent from last year. That missed forecasts for a surplus of 3,007.2 billion yen but was still up from 2,676.8 billion yen in February. The trade balance showed a surplus of 700.1 billion yen, also missing expectations for 838.9 billion yen and up from 489.2 billion yen in the previous month.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 2,893.35 | -10.36 | -0.36 |
Hang Seng | 28,122.02 | -428.22 | -1.50 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,061.90 | -73.50 | -1.20 |
KLSE Composite | 1,599.19 | -1.90 | -0.12 |
Nikkei 225 | 21,034.60 | -156.68 | -0.74 |
Straits Times | 3,223.71 | -10.57 | -0.33 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,078.31 | -0.70 | -0.03 |
Taiwan Weighted | 10,529.76 | -28.53 | -0.27 |
