Major Asian markets declined on Wednesday as global trade concerns weighed on investor sentiment.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost 116.11 points, or 0.5%, to 21,638.16.
The Japanese yen traded at 107.64 against the U.S. dollar after strengthening from levels above 108.0 in the previous session.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index dropped 20.42 points, or 0.1%, to 28,855.14
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.6989 U.S. after rising from the $0.696 handle yesterday.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 slumped 43.64 points, or 1.1%, to 3,893.53.
A private survey on Wednesday showed that growth in China’s services sector slowed to a four-month low in June.
The U.S. Commerce Department also said Tuesday that tariffs would be imposed on steel from Vietnam that was originally produced in South Korea or Taiwan, saying that those had circumvented U.S. anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties.
On the U.S-China front, however, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed not to impose new tariffs on each other’s goods after the two met at the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan.
In other markets
In Korea, the Kospi index lost 26 points, or 1.2%, to 2,096.02
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index dipped three points, or 0.1%, to 3,367.80
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index slid 121.35 points, or 1.1%, to 10,743.77
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gained 12.49 points, or 0.1%, to 10,544.43
In Australia, the ASX 200 progressed 32.25 points, or 0.5%, to 6,685.46
