Asian share markets were flat in subdued trading Wednesday as Japan reported weak export data and news surfaced of possible hiccups in China-US trade talks.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index was less than 0.1 per cent higher at 20,631.54 and South Korea's Kospi rose 0.3 per cent to 2,123.92. Hong Kong's Hang Seng edged less than 0.1 per cent higher to 27,021.90.
The Shanghai Composite index likewise gained less than 0.1 per cent to 2,581.62. Australia's S&P ASX 200 was flat at 5,856.70. Shares fell in Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia but rose in Malaysia.
The S&P 500 index declined 1.4 per cent to 2,632.90. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 1.2 per cent to 24,404.48 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 1.9 per cent at 7,020.36, reports AP.
US crude picked up 3 cents to $53.04 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract closed $1.03 lower at $53.01 per barrel on Tuesday.
Brent crude, used to price international oils, gained 7 cents to $61.57 per barrel. It dropped $1.24 to $61.50 per barrel in London.