Asian Equities Mixed on Trade Nerves

The Asian and Pacific Rim indices struggled to find direction on Tuesday. Regional traders are monitory Hong Kong as protests heat up.

Asian traders are also waiting on clarity surrounding ongoing trade talks between China and the United States. Traders are starting to doubt, once again, the possibility of a preliminary trade agreement being signed.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was up 0.12 percent by noon. The broader Topix index, in Tokyo, added 0.17 percent.

In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi composite index was up 0.11 percent. Elsewhere in the Asian and Pacific Rim, the Australian ASX 200 fell half a percent. Shares of Australian lender Westpac sunk about four percent.

The Hang Seng index, in Hong Kong were up a fraction. Shares of Tencent gained over one percent.

On Monday, the Hang Seng index sank over two and a half percent as protests in the City state became violent over the weekend.

Also on Monday, the police shot a protestor. He is in critical condition. Another man is in critical condition after setting himself on fire.

Asian Traders wait on Trade Commentary and Clarity

Traders are monitoring the 16 month long trade war between China and the United States closely as it has weighed heavily on global economic growth and roiled the financial markets.

There are rising concerns as to when and if the preliminary trade deal will actually be signed.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump said that trade talks with China were moving along very nicely.” Trump said that the United States would only sign a trade agreement that was good for the U.S. He said that the United States had no plans to lift tariffs at this time.

Also, the United States is supporting protestors in Hong Kong. This could force China to reiterate their stance for two countries one policy stance. Putting a trade deal in jeopardy.