Asian stocks struggle for direction amid Trump tariff concerns

Asian markets traded mixed Monday as investors sought bargains amid concerns over U.S. tariffs. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was little changed at 38,801.17, with a record current account surplus boosting sentiment. The Hang Seng jumped 1.6%, and the Shanghai Composite rose 0.6%, despite new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.

Tech stocks gained on hopes for Chinese stimulus, while China responded with tariffs on U.S. goods and an antitrust probe into Google. South Korea’s Kospi edged down 0.1%, and Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.3%.

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On Wall Street, the S&P 500 dropped 0.9%, the Dow lost 444 points, and the Nasdaq slid 1.4%, dragged by Amazon’s 4.1% decline after its earnings report. Treasury yields climbed as U.S. consumer inflation expectations hit 4.3%.

Investors are watching earnings from Honda and Nissan amid reports of a stalled joint venture. Crude oil prices edged higher, with Brent at $75.10 a barrel.