World shares showed a mixed performance on Wednesday, with Chinese stocks leading gains despite concerns over President-elect Donald Trump's tariff talks. In Europe, Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 declined, while Britain's FTSE 100 edged higher. Futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average were slightly lower.
In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index fell as the Japanese yen strengthened against the U.S. dollar due to trade policy uncertainty. Trump's proposed tariff hikes on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China have raised global economic concerns.
Chinese markets advanced on strong technology stock buying, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite index posting gains. South Korea's Kospi dropped as Samsung Electronics announced a management shift to enhance competitiveness in computer chips.
Australia's S&P/ASX and India's Sensex rose, while Taiwan's Taiex and Bangkok's SET declined. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones hit record highs, driven by positive sentiment despite trade tensions.
Investors are assessing whether Trump's tariff threats are negotiation tactics or will materialize, potentially impacting markets and the global economy. Higher prices could delay Federal Reserve interest rate cuts aimed at supporting the job market.
A consumer confidence report showed improvement in November, but below expectations. U.S. benchmark crude oil and Brent crude prices saw slight gains, while the euro strengthened against the dollar.
