06:46 AM EDT, 07/03/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets were uneven Thursday following a soft labor report from the US and an announcement by US President Donald Trump of a trade deal between Washington and Vietnam.

Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the green, while Hong Kong lagged. Other regional exchanges were also uneven.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened lower, see-sawed but edged up 0.1% at the close as traders weighed yen-dollar exchange rates, and a possibly softer US economic outlook after a weak private-sector labor market report, issued Wednesday.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 23.42 to 39,785.90, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 130 to 92.

Leading the upside was Hino Motors gaining 7.8%, while NH Food declined 4.8%.

In economic news, Japan's final service purchasing managers index rose to 51.7 last month from 51 in May, striking further above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower and drifted south, finishing off 0.6% after the US-Vietnam trade deal suggested Washington was maneuvering to place tariffs on China goods transshipped through other, intermediary nations.

The broad gauge Hang Seng fell 151.47 to 24,069.94, though gaining issues outnumbered losers 51 to 31. The Hang Seng TECH Index lost 0.7% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 0.3%.

Leading the upside was Wharf Real Estate Investment, gaining 6.9%, while smartphone- and auto-maker Xiaomi declined 3.4%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 0.2% to 3,461.15.

In economic news, US President Donald Trump, on social media, said Washington will charge a 20% tariff on Vietnam imports, but a 40% tariff on goods that are transshipped from other nations through Vietnam, presumably meaning China product.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 1.3%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 0.6%; the Australian ASX 200 was steady; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.2%, and the Thai Set inclined 1%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was down 0.2%.

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