Market Overview

Major Asia-Pacific indices traded mostly higher on Tuesday, showcasing a cautiously optimistic investor sentiment. This comes in the wake of new US tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, targeting several countries including Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Japan, and South Korea, set to take effect on August 1.

Regional Performances

Japan's Nikkei 225 traded 0.28% higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 0.76% and South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.55%. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite traded 0.62% higher, and the Shenzhen Composite increased by 1.13%. However, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.28% after the Reserve Bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 3.85%.

Currency Movements

The dollar traded flat against the yen, selling for 146.0785 at 7:09 am CET, indicating a stable currency market amidst the tariff announcements.