Asian markets were mixed in early trading Friday, after a Wall Street selloff as investors remained concerned about the possibility of a protracted trade war.
While no new trade talks between the U.S. and China are scheduled, President Donald Trump on Thursday said a deal was still possible, and against predicted a swift end to the yearlong trade war.
Japan’s Nikkei NIK, -0.16% fell 0.6%, but Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.30% rose 0.3% and the Shanghai Composite SHCOMP, +0.02% was up 0.3%. South Korea’s Kospi 180721, -0.69% fell 0.8% while benchmark indexes in Taiwan Y9999, +0.19% , Singapore STI, +0.16% and Indonesia JAKIDX, +0.43% were up slightly. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 XJO, -0.55% slipped 0.7%.
Among individual stocks, e-commerce company Rakuten 4755, +4.50% gained in Tokyo trading while oil producer Inpex 1605, -4.72% fell, as did Honda Motor 7267, -0.59% . In Hong Kong, AAC 2018, +2.06% and Wharf Real Estate 1997, +1.89% rose, while casino operator Sands China 1928, -2.91% sank. Samsung 005930, -2.62% dropped in South Korea, while Taiwan Semiconductor 2330, +1.30% advanced in Taiwan. In Australia, Beach Energy BPT, -5.15% and Oil Search OSH, -2.77% fell.