Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed after Wall St records despite tariff talk

Shares were mixed in Asia on Wednesday after U.S. stocks rose to records despite President-elect Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs, which caused only ripples on Wall Street.

Tokyo’s Nikkei index fell nearly 1%, to 38,081.10 as the Japanese yen surged in value against the U.S. dollar. The dollar fell to 152.31 yen from 153.08 yen. It had traded above 155 yen recently, but uncertainty over the future course of U.S. trade policy has led investors to buy yen as a safe haven, analysts said.

Sharp tariff hikes that Trump said he would impose on imports of goods from Canada, Mexico and China could roil the global economy if they take effect. His comments Monday provoked vehement responses from all three major U.S. trading partners.

“Investors, already jittery, are keenly aware of the ripple effects such protracted disputes could have, particularly on the Chinese and European economies that are bracing for Trump’s tariff onslaught,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary.

South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.6% to 2,505.49 as Samsung Electronics lost 3.3% after the company announced a shift in its top management.

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