Asian stock market today: Indices trade mixed amid Trump’s renewed tariff threat; Hang Seng up 0.2%, Shenzhen dips 0.9%

Asian shares were mixed on Tuesday, as renewed concerns over US President Donald Trump’s tariff plans unsettled investors. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 64 points, or 0.16%, in morning trade, reaching 39,524. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also edged up by 47 points, or 0.2%, to 24,250. However, South Korea’s Kospi slipped 5 points, or 0.18%, to 3,196 at 10:30 am IST. Shanghai’s benchmark Shenzhen also dropped 32 points, or 0.93%, to 3,486 after Chinese government data showed a slowdown in growth during the last quarter, as Trump’s escalating trade war began to bite. The Chinese economy grew by 5.2% annually in the second quarter, down from 5.4% in the first three months of the year. On a quarterly basis, it expanded by 1.1%. Despite concerns over the impact of the proposed tariffs on regional exporters, there is still speculation that Trump may ultimately soften his stance. The tariffs are not due to come into effect until August 1, leaving room for further negotiations. On Wall Street, Monday saw modest gains. The S&P 500 inched up 0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.3%. Investors in Japan are also awaiting the outcome of Sunday’s nationwide election for the upper house of Parliament. Analysts suggest the ruling pro-business Liberal Democratic Party may struggle and could need to form new coalitions to maintain power. If Trump’s tariffs are fully enacted next month, analysts warn they could heighten the risk of a recession, hurting American consumers and increasing the US debt burden, especially in the wake of recent large-scale tax cuts.