Nikkei Takes Pasting on Tariff Threats

Asia-Pacific markets traded lower Tuesday after Wall Street fell overnight as tariff threats by U.S. President Donald Trump stoked a risk-off mood, while investors also assessed the rate decision by the Bank of Korea.In Japan, investors returned to trading after a long weekend, with the Nikkei 225 index tumbling 539.15 points, or 1.4%, to 38,237.79. Japan’s major trading houses, however, logged sharp gains on Warren Buffett’s plans to increase Berkshire Hathaway’s stake in the conglomerates.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index dropped 307.59 points, or 0.6%, to 22,341.61. South Korea’s central bank expectedly cut rates to 2.75% from 3%, as it strives to stimulate a slowing economy. The Korean won marginally weakened to 1,430.1 against the dollar.South Korea has been facing political uncertainty, stemming from the impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.In other marketsThe CSI 300 in mainland China lost 44.07 points, or 1.1% to 3,925,65In Taiwan, the Taiex index shed 279.59 points, or 1.2%, to 23,285.72.In Singapore, the Straits Times index gave back 11.88 points, or 0.3%, to 3,915.87In Korea, the Kospi index deleted 14.98 points, or 0.5%, to 2,630.29.In New Zealand, the NZX 50 subtracted 224.45 points, or 1.8%, to 12,307.27In Australia, the ASX 200 dipped 56.34 points, or 0.7%, to 8,251.91.