Trade War Concerns Weigh on Asia-Pacific Markets

Stock markets across the Asia-Pacific region exhibited mixed performances this Friday, as the lingering uncertainties of the trade war continued to cast a shadow over investor sentiment. The Chinese Commerce Ministry has publicly urged the United States to adhere to the trade agreements made in June, highlighting the fragile state of international trade relations.

US-Japan Trade Relations Under Scrutiny

As President Donald Trump's July 9 deadline for finalizing trade deals looms, the rift in trade relations between the US and Japan appears to be widening. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba countered Trump's claims about Japan's trade practices, suggesting that the US president might be misinformed regarding Tokyo's use of American cars and rice.

Market Movements and Currency Fluctuations

In early trading, Japan's Nikkei 225 saw a modest increase of 0.11%, whereas Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's Kospi experienced declines of 0.21% and 1.58%, respectively. Meanwhile, mainland China's Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen Composite posted gains. The Australian market remained flat, and the dollar weakened against the yen.