Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as investors assess U.S.-Vietnam trade deal

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Thursday as investors await details on the U.S.-Vietnam trade agreement that President Donald Trump announced Wednesday.

The U.S. is imposing a 20% tariff on goods imported from the Southeast Asian nation, while the latter will impose “ZERO Tariff,” Trump said on Truth Social.

This comes as the deadline for Trump's 90-day tariff reprieve draws closer.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.15% and the Topix lost 0.21%. South Korea's Kospi added 0.77% and the small-cap Kosdaq rose 0.5%.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.13%.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slipped 0.64%, while mainland China's CSI 300 added 0.14%.

U.S. stock futures were little changed as traders braced for June's big jobs report in the U.S. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures were fractionally higher. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 21 points, or less than 0.1%.

Overnight stateside, the three major averages closed mixed. The S&P 500 scored a fresh all-time intraday high and closed at another record. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.94% and posted a record close of 20,393.13. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 10.52 points, or 0.02%, and ended at 44,484.42.

Taiwan stocks jump to highest since March

Taiwanese stocks rose as much as 1.1% to the highest since March 6 in early Asia hours, data from LSEG showed. The index's gains were led by a mix of technology and consumer cyclicals stocks.

Semiconductor packaging and testing company Powertech Industrial saw shares jump 10%, leading gains in the index, while Win Win Precision Industrial rose 7.2%. Nan Ya PCB Corporation, which manufactures circuit boards, climbed over 9%.

Lai Yih Footware jumped 8.52%.

Asia markets kick off Thursday trading mixed

Asia-Pacific markets started the trading day mixed as of 8 a.m. Singapore time.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.15% and the Topix lost 0.21%.

South Korea's Kospi added 0.77% and the small-cap Kosdaq rose 0.5%.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.13% at the open.

Trump says U.S. struck trade deal with Vietnam that imposes 20% tariff on its imports

President Donald Trumpsaid Wednesday that the United States has struck a trade deal with Vietnam that includes a 20% tariff on the Southeast Asian country's imports to the U.S.

The deal will give the U.S. tariff-free access to Vietnam's markets, Trump said on Truth Social.

Vietnam also agreed that goods would be hit with a 40% tariff rate, he added, if they originated in another country and were transferred to Vietnam for final shipment to the United States.

The process, known as transshipping, is used to circumvent trade barriers. China, a top exporter to the U.S., has reportedly used Vietnam as a transshipment hub.

Good morning from Singapore, here are the opening calls

Hello from Singapore! Asia-Pacific stock markets are looking at a lower open after mixed trading on Wednesday.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 was set to open marginally lower, with the futures contract in Osaka last trading at 39,740, against the index's last close of 39,762.48.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 is similarly set for a lower open, with futures tied to the benchmark at 8,587 compared to its last close of 8,597.7.

Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index stood at 24,174, lower than its last close of 24,221.41.

We will also be on the lookout if Singapore equities can maintain their streak after notching a new high on Wednesday.

S&P 500, Nasdaq close higher Wednesday

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite finished Wednesday's session in the green.

The broad market index rose 0.47% to close at 6,227.42, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq jumped 0.94%, finishing at 20,393.13. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average, meanwhile, dropped 10.52 points, or 0.02%, to end the day at 44,484.42.