Asia-Pacific Markets Move Mixed Amid Tariff Threat
Stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region opened with mixed movements on Thursday morning, after US President Donald Trump announced he would impose a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports. However, companies building production facilities in the United States will be exempt from the tariffs.
However, there is still no clarity on how large a production commitment in the US will be required for a company to be exempt from the tariffs. This uncertainty has left investors in the region cautious about the potential impact on the technology sector.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index was flat, while the Topix index edged up 0.19% as of 8:06 a.m. Singapore time. Meanwhile, South Korea's Kospi index fell 0.12%, and the Kosdaq index showed no significant changes.
In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index also moved flat. The varied market movements reflect investor caution regarding global trade tensions and how US policies will impact the semiconductor supply chain in the Asian region. (ayu)
Source: Newsmaker.id