Asian stock markets traded mixed on Thursday as investors braced for the upcoming U.S. tariff deadline on July 9 and digested key economic data from China and Australia. Market sentiment was cautious ahead of the U.S. jobs report, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path.
U.S. stock indexes closed higher on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching new record highs. However, Wall Street futures were mostly flat during Asian hours. President Donald Trump confirmed a trade deal with Vietnam, marking the third agreement ahead of the looming deadline, after similar deals with the UK and China. Trump reiterated that the July 9 deadline would not be extended, warning that nations without deals will face formal tariff notifications. However, uncertainty remains as he also threatened steep tariffs of 30–35% on Japanese imports earlier this week.
Asian markets showed a cautious tone. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX both slipped 0.2%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng led regional losses, falling 1.2%. In contrast, South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.6%, and the Philippines’ PSEi jumped 1%. Singapore’s Straits Times Index remained flat, while India’s Nifty 50 futures edged up 0.1%.
Economic data added to market jitters. Australia’s trade surplus narrowed sharply in May to its lowest since November 2019, driven by weaker exports and recovering imports. The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.6%. In China, services sector growth slowed to a nine-month low in June, signaling softer domestic demand. The Shanghai Composite dipped 0.1%, while the CSI 300 ticked up 0.2%.
Investors continue to monitor global trade developments and economic indicators for further clues on market direction.