Trade tensions continue to depress Asian markets

ASIAN markets ended a choppy week lower on Friday, tracking US markets as relief over the outcome of the recent midterm elections faded, and investors turned their attention back to the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes and the ongoing trade war.

"Despite the overnight US relief rally, sentiments have not improved," DBS regional equity strategist Joanne Goh said. "We think this is largely due to the pessimism on the topic (of the trade war) expressed by world leaders during the Bloomberg New Economy forum."

She added that a split Congress should not affect US President Donald Trump's trade war agenda, since it enjoys support from both political parties and is "increasingly viewed as a political and ideological conflict".