Asian markets settled mostly down on Thursday tracking Wall Streets’ overnight fall after US Treasury yields hit their highest in 18 months on concerns that a new budget proposal could swell the country's federal deficit. US President Donald Trump is championing an extension of his 2017 tax cuts, which analysts warn could add trillions to the federal government's already massive $36.2 trillion debt pile. The plan has sparked fears of an even wider deficit, especially as interest payments continue to soar. Former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he is more alarmed by the country’s growing budget deficit than the trade deficit, and urged Washington to prioritize fiscal repair. Japanese shares fell as the yen hit a new two-week high against the US dollar, despite data showing Japan's core machinery orders rose 13% in March from the previous month. Seoul shares declined after reports suggested that the United States had demanded Seoul to come up with strong measures to boost the won.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,380.19 | -7.38 | -0.22 |
| Hang Seng | 23,544.31 | -283.47 | -1.20 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,166.98 | 24.52 | 0.34 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,527.02 | -17.78 | -1.15 |
| Nikkei 225 | 36,985.87 | -313.11 | -0.85 |
| Straits Times | 3,880.09 | -2.46 | -0.06 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,593.67 | -31.91 | -1.23 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 21,670.96 | -132.95 | -0.61 |
