Asia markets mixed ahead of U.S. tariff deadline

July 04, 2025 (MLN): Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Friday as investors awaited further clarity on the U.S. trade deals ahead of President Donald Trump’s deadline for higher tariffs next week.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 benchmark declined 0.13% in choppy trade, while the broader Topix index lost 0.22%. South Korea’s Kospi index dropped 1.41%, and the small-cap Kosdaq slipped 1.86%.

Meanwhile, mainland China’s CSI 300 index edged up 0.41% in volatile trading, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.62%.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 remained flat. India’s benchmark Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex also opened the session flat, as CNBC reported.

Overnight in the U.S., a stronger-than-expected jobs report eased concerns over a potential economic slowdown, propelling major indexes to fresh record highs.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 344.11 points, or 0.77%, to settle at 44,828.53.

The S&P 500 rose 0.83% to close at 6,279.35, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.02% to end at 20,601.10.

Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at new records.

U.S. markets are closed on Friday for the Independence Day public holiday.

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