North Korea-U.S. tensions drag Asian stocks down

Asian markets dropped today, following North Korea’s threat to attack the US Pacific island of Guam, while U.S. president Donald Trump in response warned North Korea of serious consequences if it continued this type of threats.

Risk-aversion spread in Asian markets, sending the yen to a 2-month high, as a safe haven currency, while gold got boosted as well. 

Regarding economic data, China’s inflation declined, dragging Asian stocks further down, while investors wait for U.S. inflation data later this week.

Japanese shares decreased, as TOPIX fell 1.28% or 16.15 points to 1,243.09, while Nikkei 225 dropped 1.33% or 266.40 points to 19,729.61.

Chinese CSI 300 lowered 0.23% or 8.74 points to 3,723.47, while Shanghai fell 0.25% or 8.12 points to 3,273.75.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shed 0.51% or 140.90 points to 27,714.01, while South Korea’s KOSPI tumbled 0.89% or 21.31 points to 2,373.42.

New Zealand’s NZX 50 declined 0.34%, or 26.50 points to 7,756.21, and finally Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.54% or 30.75 points to 5,774.50.