Asian stocks displayed mixed performance on Wednesday, with Chinese equities declining amid heightened U.S.-China trade tensions. Meanwhile, investors assessed stronger-than-expected inflation data from South Korea and the Philippines.

Chinese Stocks Slide on Trade War Concerns

🔹 Shanghai Composite fell 0.4%, while the CSI 300 index dropped 0.3%.
🔹 Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index saw a 1% decline.
🔹 The declines came after China resumed trade post-Lunar New Year holidays.

U.S.-China Trade Dispute Intensifies

The renewed U.S.-China trade war has put pressure on financial markets:

✅ U.S. Tariffs: A fresh 10% tariff imposed by Trump on Chinese imports.
✅ China's Response: Retaliatory tariffs on U.S. coal, LNG, crude oil, farm equipment, and vehicles (effective Feb 10, 2025).
✅ Market Uncertainty: No immediate signs of resolution, as Trump signals no rush to engage in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Other Asian Markets React

📌 Japan's Nikkei 225 & TOPIX - Largely flat, reflecting investor caution.
📌 Australia's S&P/ASX 200 - Up 0.6%, bucking the regional trend.
📌 Indonesia's JCI - Down 0.5%, mirroring broader regional weakness.
📌 India's Nifty 50 futures - Indicating a marginal drop at open.

Tech Stocks Weigh on U.S. Futures

🔻 Nasdaq 100 futures slipped as Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) missed earnings estimates, adding pressure on global tech stocks.

Key Market Insights with Financial Data APIs

📊 Sector Historical API - Analyze the performance of Asian stock sectors during trade war escalations.

📊 Forex Daily API - Track currency fluctuations amid rising geopolitical risks.

With escalating trade tensions and inflation surprises, Asian markets are set for a volatile 2025.