Asia-Pacific Markets Show Mixed Responses

Following the latest executive actions by United States President Donald Trump aimed at boosting artificial intelligence (AI) development and his stern warnings on trade tariffs, major stock market indexes in the Asia-Pacific region presented a mixed picture on Thursday.

Trump's Strategic Moves

President Trump has signed executive orders to accelerate AI advancements in the U.S., while also threatening to impose unilateral tariff measures if favorable trade agreements are not reached. He emphasized that the decision to reduce levies now lies with China, putting the ball in their court.

Market Performance Overview

Japan's Nikkei 225 saw an uptick, rising by 0.45%, as the dollar weakened against the yen. Conversely, South Korea's Kospi experienced a slight decline. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 marked a notable increase, while mainland China's Shenzhen Composite dropped, and the Shanghai Composite remained stable. Hong Kong's Hang Seng faced a significant slide, losing over 1%.