Asian markets hit by profit-taking, weaker China data

January 14, 2019: Data Monday showed China's imports and exports fell last month, signaling that the US tariffs are beginning to bite in the world's number two economy. The Customs bureau also said China's trade surplus with the US -- a major source of anger for President Donald Trump -- widened 17.2 percent last year.

"China's weaker-than-expected 2018 trade data has seen the China equity market dive lower. Then sentiment went deeper into the tank on the release of China December trade data, which missed the mark badly," said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA.

(APP)