Asian markets finished down on Tuesday tracking weak performance on Wall Street overnight after US President Donald Trump's comments that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will proceed as planned once the month-long delay ends next week. Chinese and Hong Kong shares declined as investors were rattled by an order from US President Donald Trump to restrict Chinese investments in strategic areas such as chips, AI and aerospace. Seoul shares fell as the Bank of Korea cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 2.75% and also lowered its GDP forecast for this year to 1.5%, down from 1.9% in the November forecast amid ongoing political uncertainty surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial. Japanese shares dropped, even as shares in Japan's five largest trading houses surged after Warren Buffett said Berkshire Hathaway's stakes in them would likely increase somewhat over time.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,346.04 | -26.99 | -0.81 |
Hang Seng | 23,034.02 | -307.59 | -1.34 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,587.09 | -162.51 | -2.47 |
KLSE Composite | 1,568.03 | -16.22 | -1.02 |
Nikkei 225 | 38,237.79 | -539.15 | -1.41 |
Straits Times | 3,915.87 | -11.88 | -0.30 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,630.29 | -14.98 | -0.57 |
Taiwan Weighted | 23,285.72 | -279.59 | -1.20 |
