Investors Weigh New Tariffs, Stocks Head Skyward

Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose following U.S. President Donald Trump’s vow to impose a 100% tariff on imports of semiconductors and chips, but companies that are “building in the United States” will be exempted. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 spiked 264.29 points, or 0.7%, to 41,059.15. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng jumped 171 points, or 0.7%, to 25,081.68. Taiwanese shares rallied, with gains led by the tech sector. Shares of Cathay Pacific Airways plunged as much as 4.52% Thursday, extending its declines for the second consecutive session. This comes after the company posted a 1% profit growth in the first half of 2025 on Wednesday and said it bought 14 Boeing 777-9 aircraft. CHINA In Shanghai, the CSI 300 edged 1.18 points to 4,114.67 China’s exports growth in July sharply beat market expectations as the clock on a tariff truce with the U.S. keeps ticking, while imports rose their highest jump in a year. Exports climbed 7.2% in July in U.S. dollar terms from a year earlier, customs data showed Thursday, exceeding Reuters-polled economists’ estimates of a 5.4% rise. Imports rose 4.1% last month from a year earlier, accelerating the 1.1% rebound in June in its first growth this year. Economists had forecast imports to fall 1.0%, according to a Reuters poll. In other markets In Korea, the Kospi index gained 29.54 points, or 0.9%, to 3,227.68 In Singapore, the Straits Times index advanced 30.45 points, or 0.7%, to 4,258.15. In Taiwan, the Taiex index ballooned 556.41 points, or 2.4%, to 24,003.77. In New Zealand, the NZX 50 inched up 6.94 points, or 0.1%, to 12,887.10. In Australia, the ASX 200 subtracted 12.29 points, or 0.1%, to 8,831.37.