\n<\/p>\n
Asian stocks ended on a muted note on Wednesday as caution prevailed ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs announcement expected later in the day. <\/p>\n
Treasury yields advanced after a multi-day drop and the dollar held steady, pushing gold prices down from new record highs reached earlier this week. <\/p>\n
Oil extended losses on concerns that new U.S. tariffs may drag on global growth and weigh on fuel demand. <\/p>\n
China’s Shanghai Composite finished marginally higher at 3,350.13 after a choppy session. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gave up early gains to end marginally down at 23,202.53.<\/p>\n
Japanese markets<\/span> ended slightly higher after a choppy session. The Nikkei average rose 0.28 percent to 35,725.87 while the broader Topix index settled 0.43 percent lower at 2,650.29.<\/p>\n Uniqlo-owner Fast Retailing rallied 3.7 percent and chip-testing equipment maker Advantest climbed 2.6 percent while energy stocks tracked crude prices lower. <\/p>\n Seoul stocks fell notably, with the Kospi average ending down 0.62 percent at 2,505.86. Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Steel and Posco Holdings gave up 1-3 percent.<\/p>\n Australian markets edged up slightly, with property developers, financials and technology<\/span> stocks pacing the gainers. Mining and energy stocks fell, limiting overall gains in the broader market. <\/p>\n The benchmark S&P\/ASX 200 ended up 0.12 percent at 7,934.50 while the broader All Ordinaries index finished marginally higher at 8,133.10.<\/p>\n Across the Tasman, New Zealand’s benchmark S&P\/NZX-50 index ended flat with a positive bias at 12,320.19.<\/p>\n U.S. stocks fluctuated before finishing higher overnight ahead of the impending tariff announcements, with the Washington Post noting that White House aides have drafted a proposal to impose tariffs of around 20 percent on most imports to the United States, but several options are on the table.<\/p>\n Investors shrugged off data that showed activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted in March after two consecutive months of expansion.<\/p>\n Job openings fell in February, but layoffs remained subdued, adding to evidence of a gradually cooling labor market.<\/p>\n The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite surged 0.9 percent and the S&P 500 rose 0.4 percent after hitting six-month intraday lows on Monday. The Dow finished marginally lower. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n