06:32 AM EDT, 04/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets were choppy on Monday as traders weighed the evolving outlook for US tariffs and macroeconomic responses to higher trade barriers.

Hong Kong and Sydney were closed on holiday.

Shanghai gained, Tokyo finished in the red, and other regional exchanges were uneven.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower and declined to the close, finishing off 1.3% on a perceived lack of progress in US-Japan trade talks. A stronger yen undercut export issues.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 450.36 to 34,279.92, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 184 to 41.

Leading the upside was paper manufacturer Oji, gaining 6.7%, while Sumitomo Pharmaceutical lost 11.4%.

The Shanghai Composite rose 0.4% to 3,291.43. Market sentiments were bolstered after Premier Li Qiang urged government officials on Friday to intensify bids to stabilize the nation's stock market.

On the other regional exchanges, the South Korean KOSPI rose 0.2%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 1.5%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 1.1%, and the Thai Set declined 1.4%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1.1%.

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