Asian markets settle mixed on Wednesday

Asian markets settled mixed on Wednesday tracking Wall Street’s fall overnight as risk aversion gripped financial markets on the back of rising bond yields and US President Donald Trump's renewed threats of tariffs against European nations over the proposed purchase of Greenland. Japanese shares fell after Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama called for calm among market participants following a rout that pushed yields to all-time highs. Chinese shares gained marginally due to hopes that China will increase policy support this year following pledges to roll out additional fiscal and monetary stimulus. Seoul shares rose after data showed South Korean exports rose 14.9% year over year in the first 20 days of January, led by a 70% jump in semiconductor shipments.