Asian stocks mixed on US-China trade worries
BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Tuesday after a Chinese government report accusing the Trump administration of bullying other countries, dampening hopes for a settlement in their escalating tariff war.
KEEPING SCORE: The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.8 percent to 2,776.33 and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 added 0.2 percent to 23,908.17. Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 gained 1.2 points to 6,188.12 and India’s Sensex advanced 0.3 percent to 36,420.60. Hong Kong and Seoul were closed for holidays. Benchmarks in New Zealand, Taiwan and Singapore gained while other Southeast Asian markets declined.
WALL STREET: Industrial companies and banks sank after news reports China pulled out of possible talks proposed by Washington on ending their fight over Beijing’s technology policy. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 0.4 percent to 2,919.37. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.7 percent to 26,562.05. Both the S&P 500 and Dow set record highs last week. General Electric dropped 3.5 percent and 3M declined 1.3 percent.
TRADE FIGHT: A Chinese trade envoy said Beijing cannot negotiate with Washington while the United States “holds a knife” to Beijing’s neck with tariff hikes. The conflict stems from U.S. complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology. On Monday, China issued a report accusing Washington of “trade bullyism” toward other governments. At the same time, both governments imposed new tariffs on each other’s goods.
ANALYST’S TAKE: The Chinese criticism suggests Beijing “might prefer to wait out the current U.S. administration, rather than embarking on potentially futile negotiations,” said Cheng Wei Liang of Mizuho Bank in a report. “It is increasingly likely that both sides will not resume negotiations for some time, at least until there is a noticeable shift in the political mood on either side.”
U.S.-SOUTH KOREA TRADE: South Korean markets were closed for a public holiday, limiting immediate reaction to the signing by President Donald Trump and President Moon Jae-in of a new version of the U.S.-South Korean trade agreement. It marked one of Trump’s first successes renegotiating deals on more favorable terms for the U.S. Trump said the new agreement will help reduce the U.S. trade deficit and create new opportunities to export U.S. automobiles, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products to South Korea.
OIL BOOST: Oil prices jumped after a weekend meeting of OPEC and its allies ended with no decision to increase output despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for lower prices. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries met with non-members including Russia. The committee said it saw a “healthy balance between supply and demand.” The price rise is notably caused by a recent drop in Iran’s supply because of U.S. sanctions.
ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude gained 16 cents to $72.24 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract advanced $1.30 on Monday to close at $72.08. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose 20 cents to $80.73 per barrel in London. It jumped $2.29 the previous session to $80.53.
CURRENCY: The dollar gained to 112.91 yen from Monday’s 112.79 yen. The euro declined to $1.1746 from $1.1749.
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