Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Friday as renewed concerns over the escalating U.S.-China trade conflict weighed on investor sentiment, following an overnight sell-off on Wall Street.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dropped 1.32%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 plunged 4.19% and the broader Topix index shed 3.98%. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.92%, although the tech-heavy Kosdaq gained 1.51%.
In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.56%, and Taiwan’s Taiex led regional gains with a 2% surge. China’s CSI 300 edged down 0.1%, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.37%.
The volatility followed U.S. President Donald Trump's decision on Wednesday to delay the imposition of new reciprocal tariffs for 90 days. However, the move failed to ease market concerns. ANZ analysts noted that “the extension of time does not alleviate uncertainty,” with skepticism over trade negotiations continuing to cloud the global economic outlook.
The White House confirmed that the cumulative tariff rate on Chinese imports now stands at 145%, factoring in a new 125% duty and an existing 20% linked to the fentanyl crisis.
Despite Wall Street's overnight losses, U.S. stock futures pointed slightly higher ahead of the weekend. Futures on the S&P 500 rose 0.3%, the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.1%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures edged up 28 points, or nearly 0.1%.
Explore the latest edition of Journal of Supply Chain Magazine and be part of the JOSC Daily News Bulletin.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Journal of Supply Chain is a Hansi Bakis Media brand.
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter
Subscribe For FreeBy continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms & Conditions
Next News
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has approved the allocation of a captive port to ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Ltd. (AMNS) at D.L. Puram in Anakapalli district. The designated site includes a 2.90-km waterfront, located beyond the three-nautical-mile buffer zone defined under the Naval Alternative Operations Base (Rambilli port) guidelines. The allocation is conditional upon AMNS obtaining clearances from the Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs, Shipping, and other statutory authorities.
As per the government order issued by N. Yuvaraj, Secretary of Industries & Commerce (Ports), AMNS had proposed a port-based integrated steel plant at Rajayyapeta in the district. The plant will be developed in phases, starting with a capacity of 7.30 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), followed by an expansion to 10.5 MTPA, with plans to eventually scale up to 20–24 MTPA, based on the availability of necessary infrastructure including land, water, electricity, roads, and port access.
AMNS emphasized the strategic need for a captive port to counter fluctuating domestic and global raw material prices and to ensure economies of scale in logistics. The state government has extended incentives and facilitation support for the project, contingent on AMNS adhering to agreed timelines, investment, and employment commitments outlined in the detailed project report.
Explore the latest edition of Journal of Supply Chain Magazine and be part of the JOSC Daily News Bulletin.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Journal of Supply Chain is a Hansi Bakis Media brand.