**Asia-Pacific markets rose Wednesday, tracking Wall Street gains as U.S. tariff fears eased.** Australia’s ASX 200 gained **0.71%**, Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed **0.65%**, and South Korea’s Kospi jumped **1.08%**. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose **0.65%**, while China’s CSI 300 slipped **0.33%**. Reports suggest U.S. tariffs may be softer than expected, boosting sentiment. However, U.S. consumer confidence is weakening amid inflation concerns.
**U.S. futures were flat after the S&P 500 notched a third straight gain.** The Nasdaq rose **0.46%**, while the Dow edged up slightly.