In This Article:
* Asian stock markets : https://tmsnrt.rs/2C2BSt0
* Asia shares ex-Japan lowest since July last year
* Tech sector hit by drop in chip stocks, social media
* Fears new U.S. tariffs on China could come at any time
* Yen and Swiss franc in favour as safe harbours
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Asian shares carved out a 14-month trough on Friday as investors feared a new salvo of Sino-U.S. tariffs could come at any moment, while a slump in U.S. chip stocks rippled through the tech-heavy region.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 0.4 percent, having earlier reached its lowest since mid-July last year.
The Nikkei shed 1 percent, undermined by a rising yen and reports U.S. President Donald Trump could be contemplating taking on Japan over trade.
Chinese blue chips managed a 0.8 percent bounce as beaten-down health care stocks found buyers after taking a savaging in recent months amid vaccine scandals.
Emerging markets in the region were struggling to steady after a punishing week, with Indonesia and the Philippines still badly scarred by fears of capital flight following crises in Argentina and Turkey.
Nerves were set to be frayed further as the public comment period for proposed tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese imports ends at 0400 GMT. The tariffs could go into effect shortly afterward, though there was no clear timetable.
China has warned of retaliation if Washington launches any new measures.
"It seems unlikely the tariffs are not implemented as the U.S. administration believes that they are winning the trade war and will be in a stronger position to negotiate if they put more pressure on China," JPMorgan analysts wrote in a note.
"The tech sector was also very weak overnight, with a slide in Micron of almost 10 percent and further weakness in the Chinese Internet ADRs."
Wall Street saw sharp losses in chipmakers and concerns about increased regulation of social media companies.
The S&P 500 lost 0.37 percent and the Nasdaq 0.91 percent, while the Dow eked out a 0.08 percent gain.
WATCHING WAGES
Eyes were now turned to the U.S. payrolls report for August which is expected to show a robust rise of 191,000, in part as July was temporarily depressed by the closure of the Toys R Us chain that month.
Still, analysts at NatWest Markets cautioned that: "Despite employment indicators pointing to another strong report, it is worth noting that there is a tendency for August payrolls to initially disappoint and then be revised up noticeably later."
Just as important will be figures on U.S. wages where a rise above the 0.2 percent forecasted would likely boost the dollar and pressure Treasury prices.