Asian stocks today: Markets slide as US-China tensions intensify; HSI falls 1%, Nikkei sheds over 260 points

Asian equities declined on Wednesday as investors paused after recent gains, with gold and silver also tumbling. This pullback followed US President Trump’s suggestion that a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping might not proceed. Markets in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo experienced drops, while gold saw a sharp fall from its record peak.