Asian markets settled mostly down on Monday due to lingering Trump administration’s tariff worries, the threat of a US recession and signs of deepening deflationary pressures in China. Chinese shares declined after an announcement of tariffs on over $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products on Saturday, retaliating against levies Ottawa introduced in October on Chinese-made electric vehicles and steel and aluminium products. However, Japan’s Nikkei average gained, tracking Wall Street’s gains last Friday with prospects that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates earlier after a report showed employment in the United States increased by slightly less than expected in the month of February.
Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
Shanghai Composite | 3,366.16 | -6.39 | -0.19 |
Hang Seng | 23,783.49 | -447.81 | -1.88 |
Jakarta Composite | 6,598.21 | -37.79 | -0.57 |
KLSE Composite | 1,536.46 | -10.81 | -0.70 |
Nikkei 225 | 37,028.27 | 141.10 | 0.38 |
Straits Times | 3,899.07 | -15.41 | -0.40 |
KOSPI Composite | 2,570.39 | 6.91 | 0.27 |
Taiwan Weighted | 22,459.15 | -116.92 | -0.52 |
