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Asia-Pacific stock markets have experienced a mixed trading session recently as regional investors remain uncertain about the ongoing US-China talks. The trade meeting was held in Stockholm, Sweden, as Scott Bessent (US Treasury Secretary) and He Lifeng (Chinese Vice Premier) led the discussions.
The US Secretary announced that an extension of the trade truce is anticipated. He further mentioned that Beijing's oil purchases from Russia and Iran would be central topics of discussion.
Last Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced that tariffs on European Union exports to the US would be reduced to 15% and that US-China talks would commence on Monday. This has put global investors on edge, as they believe this week could be crucial and have a significant impact on the world economy.
Previously, the US President had also warned that if a trade deal with the EU were not reached within a specific timeframe, a 30% tariff would be imposed on European goods sold in the United States.
The following data shows how the stock market in the Asia-Pacific region saw a mixed trading session:
Mainland China’s Benchmark Index increased by 0.21%, whereas Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose by 0.68%.
Meanwhile, India’s NIFTY 50 dropped by 0.67% and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) declined 0.64%.
South Korea’s Kospi Index rose by 0.42%, closing at 3,209.52. On the other hand, Kosdaq (small cap) fell by 0.32% to 804.4.
Australia’s Benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index climbed by 0.36%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 witnessed the steepest dip of 0.85%.
As seen in the data above, indices such as the Hang Seng, CSI 300, and Kospi reported profits, while the Nikkei 225, Nifty 50, and Sensex incurred significant losses.
The share value of Samsung Electronics surged dramatically as soon as the company announced its $16.5bn contract with Tesla for the supply of semiconductors.
Advantest, a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer, suffered a 10% loss during the trade.
The Asia-Pacific trading session concluded on a mixed note; however, a positive development is that both the United States and China have expressed their willingness to extend their trade truce agreement for an additional 90 days.
This meeting was prompted by ongoing tensions between the two nations, during which each has imposed significant tariffs on the other. Another important topic addressed during the discussions was the US Secretary's expectation that China's oil purchases from Russia and Iran would be evaluated.
