Asian Markets Rise Amid U.S. Tariff Optimism

Asian stocks largely rose on Wednesday, buoyed by expectations of a softer stance on U.S. tariffs proposed by President Trump, which have raised concerns over potential stagflation and recession risks. Japan's markets saw gains as the Prime Minister pledged to address rising prices without additional budget spending, while South Korea's and Australia's markets also rose amid favorable local economic data. In the U.S., stocks continued their upward trend despite a decline in consumer confidence, with investors hopeful about a less aggressive tariff implementation. The yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury note remained steady as the market anticipates possible Federal Reserve rate cuts in response to the economic uncertainty. Concerns persist over tariff impacts on consumer prices, with potential increases looming for electronics and auto insurance costs due to trade tensions with China, Canada, and Mexico.