Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Wednesday after losses on Wall Street as investors weighed weaker-than-expected economic data as well as fresh tariff comments from U.S. President Donald Trump.
“We’re going to be announcing [tariffs] on semiconductors and chips, which is a separate category, because we want them made in the United States,” Trump said on Tuesday stateside, adding that he’ll announce the new plan “within the next week or so.”
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 245.32 points, or 0.6%, to 40,794.86.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng edged ahead 8.1 points to 24,910.63.
Japanese auto giant Honda’s first quarter operating profits fell 50% year over year on Wednesday, missing estimates due to U.S. auto tariffs and a stronger yen.
In the first quarter of its fiscal year, which ended on June 30, Honda’s revenue came in at 5.34 trillion yen, beating mean estimates from LSEG.
Cathay Pacific stocks extended declines, falling over 8% even after the carrier posted a 1% rise in first-half profit, supported by increased passenger traffic and lower jet fuel costs.
Cathay Pacific also announced its purchase of 14 Boeing 777-9 aircraft in a press release Wednesday.
Japan’s Tokyo Electron and Lasertec fell 3.46% and 1.82% respectively. Renesas Electron lost 3.68%.
Shares of South Korean memory chipmakers also fell. SK Hynix lost 2.09%, while Samsung Electronics lost 1.43%. Taiwan’s TSMC stocks fell 2.17%.
In other markets
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 took on 10.03 points, or 0.2%, to 4,113.48
In Korea, the Kospi index nosed up 0.14 points to 3,198.14
In Singapore, the Straits Times index advanced 19.12 points, or 0.5%, to 4,227.70.
In Taiwan, the Taiex index shed 213.23 points, or 0.9%, to 23,447.36.
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 inched up 3.13 to 12,880.16.
In Australia, the ASX 200 added 73.27 points, or 0.8%, to 8,843.67.
