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Asian stocks ended lower on Tuesday amid fears that the U.S. economy<\/span> could be slipping into a recession, particularly in light of ongoing tariff disputes. <\/p>\n However, regional markets<\/span> ended off their day’s lows after a White House spokesperson downplayed recession fears and said corporate leaders have pledged “trillions in investment commitments” that will create thousands of new jobs. <\/p>\n The dollar index slipped as demand for recession havens boosted gold and sovereign bonds. <\/p>\n Oil prices recouped earlier losses to inch higher but held near multi-year lows on trade war worries and the prospects of more oil coming into the market.<\/p>\n China’s Shanghai Composite reversed course to end 0.41 percent higher at 3,379.83 as Citigroup upgraded Chinese equities to overweight, citing DeepSeek’s artificial-intelligence technology<\/span> breakthrough, the government’s support for the tech sector and still-cheap valuations. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index finished marginally lower at 23,782.14.<\/p>\n Japanese markets fell notably as the yen touched a five-month high on growing fears over an economic downturn in the U.S. <\/p>\n The Nikkei average ended down 0.64 percent at 36,793.11 after hitting a six-month low earlier in the day. The broader Topix index settled 1.11 percent lower at 2,670.72.<\/p>\n Technology investor SoftBank Group fell 2.8 percent and lender Mizuho Financial Group lost 3.7 percent while chip testing equipment maker Advantest reversed losses to end 1.7 percent higher. <\/p>\n Japan’s economy experienced slower growth than initially reported in the last quarter of the year, while household spending rose 0.8 percent in January from a year earlier, official data revealed today ahead of a BoJ policy meeting next week. <\/p>\n Seoul stocks fell sharply, with the Kospi average tumbling 1.28 percent to 2,537.60 as investors become increasingly concerned about U.S. economic growth stalling.<\/p>\n Australian markets fell to a seven-month closing low, with financials, tech and healthcare stocks pacing the declines. <\/p>\n The S&P\/ASX 200 index closed 0.91 percent lower at 7,890.10, marking its lowest since mid-August 2024. The broader All Ordinaries index ended down 1.08 percent at 8,103.40.<\/p>\n Across the Tasman, New Zealand’s benchmark S&P\/NZX-50 index settled 0.84 percent lower at 12,410.97.<\/p>\n U.S. stocks plummeted overnight while Treasury yields slid due to rising uncertainty around President Trump’s trade policies and the outlook for inflation and economic growth.<\/p>\n The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite plunged 4 percent, the S&P 500 lost 2.7 percent and the Dow fell 2.1 percent. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n Market Analysis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n