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Asia markets mixed, haunted by uncertainty on trade, Brexit

Posted March 20, 2017 7:00 am

By YURI KAGEYAMA

Trader Edward Curran works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, March 20, 2017. U.S. stocks are opening slightly lower, led by losses in banks after Britain announced it will formally trigger the process of leaving the European Union. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) The Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) - Asian shares were mixed in lackluster trading on Tuesday, as markets searched for a dominant theme, weighing currency fluctuations, signs of growing protectionism and other uncertainties.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.3 percent to 19,459.16 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was unchanged at 5,779.10. South Korea's Kospi added 1.1 percent to 2,181.09. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.3 percent to 24,585.50, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.2 percent to 3,256.37.

WHAT'S AHEAD: European markets mostly fell overnight after the British government said it will formally begin the process of leaving the European Union next week. Investors also are watching for elections in France and a European Central Bank meeting, both next month, while legislators in the U.S. debate the proposed Republican-backed health care law.

WALL STREET: The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 0.2 percent to 2,373.47. The Dow Jones industrial average was almost unchanged at 20,905.86. The Nasdaq composite was also flat, at 5,901.53.

THE QUOTE: "Markets are hard pressed to look for new and enduring themes. And none emerge; at least not compellingly so," said Vishnu Varathan, of the Singapore Treasury Division of Mizuho Bank.

TRADE WORRIES: Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 major economies dropped a pledge to eschew protectionism in a statement Saturday. The move came after pressure from the U.S. During his campaign President Donald Trump promised to rewrite trade deals, and he ditched the Trans-Pacific Partnership after taking office.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude added 19 cents to $49.10 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, rose 20 cents to $51.82 a barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The dollar rose to 112.74 yen from 112.53 yen. The euro slipped to $1.0758 from $1.0760.

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AP Markets Writer Marley Jay contributed to this report. He can be reached at http://twitter.com/MarleyJayAP

His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/marley-jay

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/yuri-kageyama

Traders Robert Arciero, left, and Frederick Reimer work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, March 20, 2017. U.S. stocks are opening slightly lower, led by losses in banks after Britain announced it will formally trigger the process of leaving the European Union. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) The Associated Press

Trader James Riley works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, March 20, 2017. U.S. stocks are opening slightly lower, led by losses in banks after Britain announced it will formally trigger the process of leaving the European Union. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) The Associated Press

Trader Patrick Casey, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, March 20, 2017. U.S. stocks are opening slightly lower, led by losses in banks after Britain announced it will formally trigger the process of leaving the European Union. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) The Associated Press

Trader Michael Milano, right, listens to specialist Mark Fitzgerald as they work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, March 20, 2017. U.S. stocks are opening slightly lower, led by losses in banks after Britain announced it will formally trigger the process of leaving the European Union. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) The Associated Press

Trader Daniel Leporin works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, March 20, 2017. U.S. stocks are opening slightly lower, led by losses in banks after Britain announced it will formally trigger the process of leaving the European Union. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) The Associated Press

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