Asian stock markets were mixed as investors responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that a trade agreement with China is done.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index dipped by 0.67%. In contrast, South Korea’s Kospi index saw a rise of 0.55%, while Australia’s ASX 200 recorded a gain of 0.25%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined by 0.59%, and the Shanghai Composite dipped less than 0.1%.
In the United States, stock futures declined as the market digested a provisional U.S.-China trade deal and recent inflation figures. Futures for the S&P 500 fell 0.38%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 0.44%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures decreased by 161 points, or 0.38%.
At the close of the previous trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average settled nearly flat, edging down by 1.1 points, concluding at 42,865.77. The S&P 500 dropped 0.27%, ending at 6,022.24, and the Nasdaq Composite, which is technology-focused, slipped 0.50% to 19,615.88.
Crude oil futures surged over 4% on Wednesday amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with President Donald Trump expressing skepticism about the possibility of a nuclear accord between the two nations.
Brent crude finished Wednesday with a $2.90 or 4.34% gain to $69.44 a barrel, while WTI saw a $0.32 drop or 0.47%% to close at $67.83.
However, Brent crude futures dipped 0.33 or 0.47% at $69.77 per barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed $3.17 or 4.9%, to settle at $68.15.
