ASIAN markets have posted a better-than-expected performance in 2017, with share price returns supported by stronger earnings growth in technology stocks while a recovery in commodity prices benefited cyclical and industrial companies.

Gains have also been attributed to softer-than-expected materialisation of US President Donald Trump's protectionist agenda - withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement and labelling China a currency manipulator.

While these and several other disruptive policies have yet to materialise over his first six months, the substantial unknowns surrounding the Trump administration remain. A preference for unilateral agreements over multinational ones questions the White House's commitment to global cooperation, while Mr Trump's vacuous Twitter messages send out confusing signals.