Asian markets fell Wednesday following a rout on Wall Street, as investors were bombarded by a “perfect storm” of problems from trade to Brexit that erased the positivity seen at the start of the week. The glum mood overshadowed hints from Donald Trump at more time to resolve the China-US trade row, as well as soothing comments from China about their desire to push on with a weekend agreement between the world’s top economies. Trading floors are awash with uncertainty over the agreement Trump hammered out with Xi Jinping to much fanfare — and an initial market rally — in Buenos Aires, with little clarity emerging and the US president shifting his tone. While he hailed the deal at first, on Tuesday he warned on Twitter “remember, I am a Tariff Man”, adding “When people or countries come in to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so”. Then, in another tweet he left open the door to an extension of the agreement’s 90-day timeline to end the row. China’s commerce ministry Wednesday called the pact “successful” and said it “will start with the implementation of the specific matters in which consensus has been reached, the sooner the better”, without providing more details. Concerns are also mounting about the US economy after the difference in yields on two- and 10-year bonds narrowed, suggesting traders are increasingly concerned about longer-term prospects. The are fears of an “inversion” where short-term yields overtake long-term rates, which in the past has been the precursor to a recession. The Dow dived 3.1 percent, S&P 500 tanked 3.2 percent and the Nasdaq plunged 3.8 percent. In Asia Hong Kong plunged 1.6 percent, Shanghai ended 0.6 percent lower and Tokyo was down 0.5 percent. Pound’s Brexit woes Singapore shed 0.8 percent and Seoul was 0.6 percent off, while Wellington dived one percent. Sydney slipped 0.8 percent after data showed the Australian economy grew at a slower pace than expected in July-September. The Australian dollar dived more than one percent. In early European trade London fell one percent, while Paris and Frankfurt were each more than one percent lower. Published in Daily Times, December 6th 2018.