Asian stock markets witnessed a slight upward trend on Wednesday, driven by a cautious anticipation of impending U.S. tariffs. These tariffs, focused on steel and aluminum, are part of the ongoing trade dispute with various countries. The dollar weakened against other major currencies as investors grappled with these escalating tensions. The KOSPI in South Korea surged over 2%, marking its highest point since August 2024, while the MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan climbed by 0.6%. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.8% and Taiwan’s stock market experienced a 1.6% increase, influenced by Nvidia’s strong performance in U.S. markets overnight. Despite initial optimism, mainland China saw blue-chip stocks remain nearly unchanged. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose by 0.27%. Experts suggest that the continued uncertainty surrounding trade negotiations may dampen market sentiment. However, investors are drawn to safe haven assets such as gold amid concerns about global economic slowdown.