Asian Markets Mixed as Trade Rally Fades, Yen Strength Weighs on Tokyo

Asian equity bourses were a mixed bag on Wednesday: Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's KOSPI advanced over 1%, mirroring Wall Street tech gains, while Japan's Nikkei slipped amid a firmer yen. The initial boost from Monday's U.S.-China tariff truce is giving way to caution as investors await the next round of trade talks and parse softer U.S. inflation data.

1. Market Moves at a Glance

• Hong Kong Hang Seng: +1.1%

• South Korea KOSPI: +1.5%

• Japan Nikkei 225: -0.8% (yen at ¥148.20/$1)

• China A-Shares (CSI 300 & Shanghai Composite): Flat

To see today's top performers across global exchanges in real time, check the Market Biggest Gainers API.

2. Trade Truce Impact Dials Back

After Monday's joint statement cutting U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% (from 145%) and China's duties on U.S. imports to 10% (from 125%) for 90 days, risk appetite surged. Equities rallied broadly, but on Wednesday the rally lost momentum as markets priced in that deeper, lasting accord remains uncertain.

3. Softer U.S. Inflation Eases Some Pressure

Tuesday's April CPI release showed:

• Headline CPI (YoY): 2.3% vs. 2.4% expected

• Core CPI (MoM): 0.2% vs. 0.3% expected

The cooler prints have trimmed Fed tightening fears, but with trade-policy volatility still high, many investors remain cautious. Track upcoming data releases and Fed events via the Economics Calendar API.

4. Tech Lead from NVIDIA Deal

Tech stocks outperformed after NVIDIA's deal to sell 18,000 AI GPUs to Saudi Arabia's HUMAIN subsidiary. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix rallied on hopes of renewed chip-cycle strength, contributing to South Korea's advance.

What to Watch Next

1. Next Trade Negotiations: Details from working-level talks could reignite rallies or spark sell-offs.

2. JPY Fluctuations: Further yen strength may weigh on Tokyo and impact exporters' earnings.

3. Global CPI Reports: European and U.S. inflation updates will influence monetary-policy expectations and regional equities.

By combining live market-mover data with economic-event calendars, investors can stay ahead of shifting sentiment and pinpoint fresh entry or exit points in this evolving environment.