Asian shares stumble as trade war fears roil global markets

But E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 .ESc1 leapt 0.6 percent, an unusual move during early Asian hours, after the Wall Street Journal reported the United States and China have quietly started negotiating to improve U.S. access to Chinese markets.

The news was little consolation for Asian shares which were left nursing their wounds.

Japan's Nikkei .N225 was down 0.6 percent after falling to a near six-month trough at open. Chinese shares declined about 1 percent in early trade. SSEC .CSI300

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS slipped 0.2 percent for its fourth consecutive day in the red.

The index is headed for its first quarterly decline since late 2016 as the risk of faster U.S. rate rises and the specter of a trade war spooked investors who had enjoyed a multi-year bull run.

“Protectionism remains a source of volatility and downside for equities,” analysts at JPMorgan said in a note.

“Asia ex-Japan equity outperformance is in part a function of faster growth and capital inflows - both clearly at risk in a trade war.”

South Korea's benchmark share index .KS11 was the lone bright spot, up 0.1 percent on reports the United States and South Korea were on the verge of a trade deal, including an exemption from U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs for South Korea.

The Korean won KWR= was also firmer after hitting a near one-month trough on the U.S. dollar last week.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Friday that could impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China, although the measures have a 30-day consultation period before they take effect.

The tariffs are on top of additional duties on steel and aluminum on a number of countries including China, which has already hit back with its own plans to slap duties on up to $3 billion of U.S. imports.

U.S. shares were also clobbered last week, with the Dow .DJI falling 1.8 percent on Friday, the S&P 500 .SPX declining 2.1 percent and the Nasdaq .IXIC off 2.4 percent.

“A faltering US stock market would be contagious, which it has been since Wednesday,” Capital Economics said in a note.

 “Stocks in emerging market countries with close to ties to China remain especially vulnerable, as do companies around the world which could be affected by Chinese retaliation,” it added.

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