Asian markets tumbled Thursday as China reiterated its determination to protect its interests in a rancorous trade dispute with Washington. Trading was subdued in the absence of leads from Wall Street with markets closed for the Independence Day holiday.
KEEPING SCORE: Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 0.8 percent to 21,546.99 and the Shanghai Composite index dropped 1.0 percent to 2,731.73. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index tumbled 1.1 percent to 27,935.13 and the Kospi in South Korea lost 0.5 percent to 2,255.23. Australia’s S&P ASX/200 bucked the regional trend, adding 0.5 percent to 6,215.50. Shares fell in Taiwan and Southeast Asian indexes were mostly lower.
