Asia markets fall as Trump tariff threats weigh

Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell on Friday as US President Donald Trump's tariff threats kept investors on edge, reports CNBC.

Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 1.8 per cent to end the day at 37,120.33, its lowest level in about two weeks, while the Topix fell 2.07 per cent to 2,757.25.

South Korea's Kospi traded 1.89 per cent lower to 2,557.98, while the small-cap Kosdaq dipped 1.94 per cent to 693.76.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slid 0.65 per cent to close at 23,426.6 while mainland China's CSI 300 dipped 0.44 per cent to close at 3,915.17.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.16 per cent to close at 7,982 as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a national election on May 3, kicking off a five-week campaign.

Meanwhile, the Stock Exchange of Thailand announced the "immediate suspension of all trading activities" following a strong earthquake in Myanmar.

European stock markets traded lower on Friday, as global investors digested new tariff announcements from the Trump administration and weighed fresh economic data out of the United States.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 was 0.8 per cent lower by 2:10 p.m. in London. The UK's FTSE 100 was 0.1 per cent lower, while France's CAC 40 and the German Dax were both down around 1 per cent.