New York, Apr 30 (AP) Shares were mixed Wednesday in Asia after US stocks rose again as companies reported stronger-than-expected profits.

US futures fell and oil prices also edged lower.

Uncertainty around President Donald Trump's trade war limited gains in US stocks. So did a drop in consumer confidence and a weak update on how many job openings US employers were advertising at the end of March.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index edged 0.1 per cent higher to 35,871.74.

Japanese automakers' shares fell even after Trump signed an order relaxing some US tariffs on imports of autos and auto parts.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 0.3 per cent to 21,941.40, while the Shanghai Composite index slipped 0.1 per cent to 3,283.51.

South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.6 per cent to 2,548.88, while the S&P/ASX 200 in Australia picked up 0.2 per cent to 8,086.90.

Taiwan's Taiex was up 0.4 per cent.

On Tuesday, US stocks rose again. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6 per cent to 5,560.83 as its winning streak extended to a sixth day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.7 per cent to 40,527.62. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.5 per cent to 17,461.32.

CEOs say they're unsure how long their companies can keep piling up profits due to the lack of clarity about Donald Trump's trade war.

Honeywell International helped lead the market with a gain of 5.4 per cent after reporting stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also raised its forecast for profit over the full year.

Sherwin-Williams rose 4.8 per cent for another one of the market's bigger gains after the paint and coatings company likewise reported a better-than-expected profit.

UPS stock swung between losses and gains at the day's start of trading after it reported a stronger profit than analysts expected for the first three months of 2025. Because it's the world's largest package delivery company, UPS can offer a window into how the global economy is doing.

But UPS also said it wasn't updating its financial forecasts previously given for 2025 because of “the current macro-economic uncertainty.” It also said it expects to cut about 20,000 jobs and close 73 buildings this year. Its stock finished 0.4 per cent lower.

Investors fear Trump's tariffs could bring a recession if left unaltered because they could freeze global trade and send prices higher for all kinds of products. And Trump's on-again-off-again rollout could by itself throw into disarray the long-term plans for spending and investment by businesses and households.

US households are getting much more pessimistic because of tariffs, and a report from the Conference Board on Tuesday said their expectations for income, business and job market conditions dropped to the lowest level since 2011 and are well below the level that usually signals a recession ahead.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said such economic uncertainty is a tool Trump can use as he negotiates tariffs and trade deals. “President Trump creates what I would call strategic uncertainty in the negotiations,” he told reporters at the White House.

General Motors slipped 0.6 per cent despite reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company rescheduled a conference call with investors to discuss its results and forecasts for 2025 to Thursday because of “recent reports regarding updates to trade policy.” Coca-Cola also overcame an early drop to rise 0.8 per cent. The beverage giant reported better-than-expected earnings in the first quarter and said the impact of tariffs on its business are likely to be “manageable.” Treasury yields fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury dropped to 4.17 per cent from 4.23 per cent late Monday.

Yields have largely been sinking since an unsettling, unusual spurt higher earlier this month rattled both Wall Street and the US government. That rise had suggested investors worldwide may have been losing faith in the US bond market's reputation as a safe place to park cash.

In other dealings early Wednesday, US benchmark crude oil lost 9 cents to USD 60.33 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, shed 6 cents to USD 63.22 per barrel.

The US dollar rose to 142.39 Japanese yen from 142.35 yen. The euro fell to USD 1.1369 from USD 1.1386. (AP) GRS GRS