This is CNBC’s live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets.
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Wednesday, as investors parse President Donald Trump’s comments on imposing a 10% tariff on China.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.42%.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 1.32%, and the Topix rose 0.72%. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.71% while the Kosdaq traded 0.85% higher.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 0.51% at the open, and the mainland China’s CSI 300 fell 0.28%.
Trump said that his team was discussing a 10% tariff on China and that the duty could take effect as early as Feb. 1.
Investors will be looking out for Malaysia’s central bank policy meeting today, where the Bank Negara Malaysia is expected to keep its policy rate steady at 3%.
Overnight in the U.S., the three major averages advanced as investors viewed Trump’s comments around international trade as a bit softer than expected.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 537.98 points, or 1.24%, to finish at 44,025.81. The S&P 500 gained 0.88% to end at 6,049.24, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.64% to 19,756.78.
Trump said he was considering 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Feb. 1 because of their border policies while signing first-day executive orders in the White House Monday night. He also mentioned China, noting that the U.S. could put tariffs on the country if it doesn’t approve a TikTok deal.
—CNBC’s Alex Harring and Brian Evans contributed to this report.
Stocks close higher
Stocks finished Tuesday’s session higher.
The Dow rose more than 500 points, or 1.2%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite added 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively.
— Alex Harring
Energy stocks buck market rally
Energy stocks sat out of the S&P 500‘s climb on Tuesday.
The sector of stocks within the broad index slid 0.6%, making it the only of the 11 tracking for losses. By comparison, the S&P 500 as a whole is up 0.7% in afternoon trading.
Energy stocks struggled after President Trump declared a national energy emergency as he seeks to increase fossil fuel production. Higher output could put downward pressure on global oil and gas prices, potentially hitting producers’ bottom line.
Devon Energy led the sector lower with a drop of 3%, while Occidental Petroleum and APA followed with losses of around 2.5% each.
Despite Tuesday’s underperformance, the energy sector has been the best performer of 2025.
— Alex Harring, Spencer Kimball
