Asia-Pacific markets open higher as investors assess Trump tariffs

Asia-Pacific markets open higher as investors assess Trump tariffs


A view of the city skyline of Lujiazui Shanghai Center in Pudong, Shanghai, China, on March 13, 2024.

Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images

Asia-Pacific markets opened higher Tuesday, tracking gains on Wall Street that appeared to look past U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff campaign.

Trump on Monday signed an order imposing 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum into the U.S.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 traded 0.24% higher. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.36%, while the small-cap Kosdaq traded around the flatline.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures were at 21,576, slightly stronger than the HSI’s last close of 21,521.98.

Japan markets were closed for a holiday.

Investors will also be keeping an eye on Singapore markets after the benchmark Straits Times Index hit an all-time intraday high of 3,910.12 on Monday.

Overnight in the U.S., the three major averages closed higher as major tech names outperformed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 167.01 points, or 0.38%, led by a 4.8% gain in McDonald’s. The 30-stock index closed at 44,470.41. The S&P 500 gained 0.67% to end at 6,066.44, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.98% to 19,714.27.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is also slated speak before Congress later in the day.

—CNBC’s Pia Singh and Brian Evans contributed to this report.



Source

Epstein files: Larry Summers to resign as Harvard professor, reports say
World

Epstein files: Larry Summers to resign as Harvard professor, reports say

Former Treasury Secretary and president emeritus and professor at Harvard University, Larry Summers attends the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 9, 2025 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images Larry Summers, the former U.S. Treasury secretary who has been dogged by his past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, will resign from […]

Read More
David Tepper sends scathing letter to Whirlpool for destroying shareholder value, pushes for changes
World

David Tepper sends scathing letter to Whirlpool for destroying shareholder value, pushes for changes

David Tepper, Appaloosa Management Peter Foley/Bloomberg | Getty Images David Tepper, billionaire founder of hedge fund Appaloosa Management, sent a strongly worded letter to Whirlpool‘s board, accusing the appliance maker of destroying shareholder value and calling for sweeping changes to its strategy and leadership. Shares of Whirlpool rose nearly 1% after the news. Whirlpool was […]

Read More
European defense companies should step up collaboration to fix ‘fragmented’ sector, Leonardo CEO tells CNBC
World

European defense companies should step up collaboration to fix ‘fragmented’ sector, Leonardo CEO tells CNBC

European defense companies must take a stronger lead on collaborating to help the continent become independent of the U.S. security umbrella, Leonardo‘s CEO told CNBC. Speaking with CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” on Wednesday after Leonardo’s annual results statement, Roberto Cingolani said European defense companies have “all the capabilities and technical skills” and should not wait […]

Read More