Markets in Asia mostly fell by the close on Wednesday afternoon, as risks of a no-deal Brexit ramped up again overnight.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 dropped 131.69 points, or 0.6%, to 23,934.43.
Japan’s exports fell 7.9% in November from a year earlier, declining for the 12th straight month, according to data from the country’s Ministry of Finance on Wednesday. However it still beat a forecast of an 8.6% drop, and was better than the 9.2% decline in October.
Imports, however, did worse than expected — falling 15.7% as compared to an estimated 12.7%.
The Japanese yen traded at 109.44 against the U.S. dollar, weakening from levels below 109.2 in the last few days.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index gained 40.5 points, or 0.2%, to 27,884.21.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange reportedly wants to cut the time between pricing an Initial Public Offering and the shares trading to a single day by as early as late 2020.
Meanwhile, Brexit risks flared amid reports on Tuesday that U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will amend the Brexit bill, explicitly ruling out any extension to the transition period beyond December 2020. The U.K. is due to leave the EU by Jan. 31.
That would leave little time to reach a trade deal with the European Union, raising the risks of a no-deal Brexit.
Exporters in Asia were watched on Wednesday for reaction to that news. Autos in Japan declined in the morning, with Mitsubishi down 0.83%, and Honda declining 0.56%. Toyota lost 0.51%, and Suzuki tumbled 0.67%.
Australian markets were flat by the finish. The Australian dollar last changed hands at $0.6843, strengthening slightly from a previous low of $0.6835.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 slid 9.02 points, or 0.2%, to 4,032.78
In other markets
In Taiwan, the Taiex added 25.44 points, or 0.2%, to 12,122.45
In Korea, the Kospi let go of 0.92 points to 2,194.76
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index regrouped 8.74 points, or 0.3%, to 3,208.54
In New Zealand, the NZX moved ahead 68.72 points, or 0.6%, to 11,329.56
In Australia, the ASX 200 re-asserted itself 4.14 points, or 0.1%, to 6,851.42
