Asian markets sink again as Trump fans trade war fears

A pedestrian walks past an electronics stock indicator in Tokyo. (Photo: AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi)

Equities went into a tailspin last week after the tycoon unveiled his plans for the controversial levies. While US investors ended on Friday on a slightly positive note, there is still the prospect of more volatility to come.

Trump ramped up his rhetoric at the weekend, tweeting that "Our friends and enemies have taken advantage of the US for many years", before adding "Sorry, it's time for a change!"

The move, part of the president's "America First" protectionist drive, was met with fury across the world with officials from Beijing to Brussels raising concerns.

"Uncertainty has lifted materially, folks, as countries react to the tariffs and a trade war and retaliatory measures loom as a real possibility unless President Trump finds a way to step back," said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.

Hong Kong led losses, falling more than two per cent, while Tokyo finished 0.7 per cent lower.

But Shanghai edged up 0.1 per cent, with eyes on the start of China's annual rubber-stamp parliament. The legislature began its most significant meeting for a generation, preparing to offer Xi Jinping a lifetime mandate to rule the world's number two economy.

SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION

Premier Li Keqiang set a 2018 economic growth target at "around 6.5 per cent", in line with expectations but lower than the 6.9 per cent increase registered last year.

Sydney lost 0.6 per cent and Seoul slipped 1.1 per cent while Singapore was off 1.2 per cent and Manila gave up 1.2 per cent. There were also losses in Taipei, Wellington, Jakarta and Bangkok.

The dollar came under further pressure on worries about a trade war, with the safe-haven yen extending last week's gains - helped by comments from the head of the Bank of Japan last week suggesting crisis-era stimulus could be scaled back from next year.

Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trading at OANDA, said: "Trump is carrying the seeds of the dollar's destruction.

"The economic fallout from trade duties would result in a toxic elixir of lower domestic growth and higher inflation, neither of which inspires investors' confidence in the dollar."

The euro also got support from news that German Chancellor Angela Merkel would form a new government, ending months of uncertainty in Europe's biggest economy, though Italy was on course for a hung parliament after a general election at the weekend.

In early European trade London fell 0.1 per cent, Paris dropped 0.4 per cent and Frankfurt shed 0.5 per cent.

- Key figures around 0820 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 per cent at 21,042.09 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 2.3 per cent at 29,886.39 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 per cent at 3,256.93 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 7,066.63

Euro/dollar: UP at US$1.2302 from US$1.2300 at 2200 GMT on Friday

Pound/dollar: UP at US$1.3795 from US$1.3792

Dollar/yen: DOWN at ¥105.52 from ¥105.73

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 13 cents at US$61.38 per barrel

Oil - Brent North Sea: UP 17 cents at US$64.54 per barrel

New York - DOW: DOWN 0.3 per cent at 24,538.06 (close)