TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) — Japan’s Nikkei dropped 1.3 percent on Monday (January 23) as investors were on the defensive over worries about President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies which outweighed optimism that he will follow through on promises of tax cuts and other stimulus.
The benchmark Nikkei average was at 18938.45 down 199.46 yen at the beginning of the trade on Monday.
South Korean stocks opened slightly higher with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) up 0.14 percent, to 2,068.47 points as of 0018GMT.
Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng index opened up 0.2 percent at 22,926.30 points.