Investors Assess Latest Trade Move, Asia Mixed

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Monday, as bitcoin hit a record high and investors assessed the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 30% tariffs on the European Union and Mexico imposed over the weekend.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 dropped 110.06 points, or 0.3%, to 39,459.62.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng gained 63.75 points, or 0.3%, to 24,203.32.

Japan’s core machinery orders fell 0.6% in May from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to data released by the country’s Cabinet Office on Monday.

While that came in slightly better than the 1.5% contraction estimated by economists in a Reuters poll, it followed April’s decline of 9.1%.

Singapore’s economy grew at 1.4% in the second quarter of 2025, avoiding a technical recession as it reversed the 0.5% contraction recorded in the first three months of the year.

On a year-over-year basis, the country’s economy expanded 4.3% in the second quarter of 2025, accelerating from 4.1% in the first three months and beating expectations. A Reuters poll of economists had forecasted a 3.5% growth.

CHINA

In Shanghai, the CSI 300 edged up 2.86 points, or 0.1%, to 4,017.67

China’s exports beat expectations in June as businesses continued to rush out shipments to capitalize on a temporary tariff reprieve ahead of an August deadline.

Exports jumped 5.8% in June in U.S. dollar terms from a year earlier, customs data showed Monday, exceeding Reuters’ poll estimates of a 5% jump.

In other markets,

In Korea, the Kospi index regained 26.26 points, or 0.8%, to 3,2020.03.

In Singapore, the Straits Times index added 21.4 points, or 0.5%, to 4,109.21.

In Taiwan, the Taiex index staggered 136.06 points, or 0.6%, to 22,614.97.

In New Zealand, the NZX 50 arched back 7.99 points, or 0.1%, to 12,678.69.

In Australia, the ASX 200 retreated 9.73 points, or 0.1%, to 8,570.40.