Mixed Trading in Asian Shares Following U.S. Presidential Inauguration

TOKYO (AP) — Asian stock markets experienced mixed results in mostly quiet trading on Tuesday. Investors were anticipating a significant response to the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, but that reaction remained muted.

Markets had varied opinions; some experts believed the inauguration could boost optimism in global markets, while others were concerned about potential tariffs impacting Asian economies. On Monday, U.S. markets were closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index dipped slightly, losing 0.1% to reach 38,951.77. Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 saw a modest gain of 0.5%, bringing it to 8,392.80. South Korea's Kospi fell by 0.2%, landing at 2,514.06.

Concerns about Trump's policies affecting China eased slightly, as both nations expressed a commitment to improve their relations. Notably, Trump did not signal immediate plans to impose new tariffs on Chinese imports.

The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong rose by 0.4%, reaching 20,012.25, while the Shanghai Composite index lost 0.3%, closing at 3,233.85.

Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, noted, "In a twist that calmed nerves across global markets, President Trump revealed he would not, contrary to expectations, roll out new tariffs immediately." This statement seemed to provide some reassurance to investors.

In anticipation of economic stimulus actions from the U.S. government, stock market futures in the U.S. showed signs of increasing.

In other market news, shares of Fuji Media Holdings, which includes the well-known broadcaster Fuji TV, fell due to various companies, including Toyota Motor Corp., halting advertisement placements linked to Fuji TV. The stock has fluctuated amidst ongoing controversies.

In the energy sector, U.S. crude oil prices dropped by $1.14, settling at $76.74 per barrel. Conversely, Brent crude, the international benchmark, added 13 cents, bringing it to $80.28 per barrel.

On the currency front, the U.S. dollar weakened in response to the unclear direction of Trump’s trade policies. It fell to 155.14 Japanese yen from a previous 155.61 yen, while the euro was priced at $1.0389, slightly down from $1.0419.

Asian, Markets, Trading