Delhi, 15 May (H.S.): Asian stocks opened lower on Thursday as investors adopted a cautious approach, awaiting advancements in trade negotiations. U.S. allies are striving to secure agreements to navigate Donald Trump’s tariff threats, while oil prices continued to decline amid optimism for a resolution on the Iran nuclear deal. This marked the first decline in five days for stocks, impacted by waning enthusiasm over U.S.-China trade talks.

The Shanghai index fell by 15.34 points (0.45%) to 3,388.6, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dipped 12.91 points (0.05%) to 23,627.74. Japan’s Nikkei dropped significantly by 443.49 points (1.16%) to 37,684.64, while South Korea’s Kospi decreased by 4.34 points (0.16%) to 2,636.23. U.S. futures also declined slightly after a muted trading session on Wall Street. Concerns are growing that the global market rally driven by trade optimism and economic signs may have accelerated too quickly. China announced a temporary suspension of export restrictions on rare earths and military-related goods, providing some reassurance alongside recent trade agreements.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar