TOKYO, Jan 27, (AP): Asian shares were mostly higher Tuesday after US stock indexes ticked upward, buoyed by strong profit reports for some companies. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.9% to 53,333.54. The Kospi in South Korea surged 2.7% to 5,084.85, even after US President Donald Trump said he would raise tariffs on South Korean goods because the country’s national assembly has yet to approve a trade framework announced last year.

South Korea’s presidential office responded after a meeting of top officials that it will convey its commitment to implementing last year’s deal to the US. The presidential office said that South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jung-Kwan will travel to the US for talks with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, while Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo will travel separately to meet with Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

im was on a visit to Canada. Trump said on social media Monday that import taxes would be raised on autos, lumber and pharmaceutical drugs from South Korea with the rate on other goods going from 15% to 25%. Gains for Korean tech-related shares like Samsung Electronics, which rose 4.9% and chip maker SK Hynix, which soared 8.7%, helped offset losses for automakers. Kia Corp. fell 1.1% and Hyundai Motor Co. lost 0.8%. Chinese markets were mixed.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng advanced 1.3% to 27,106.83 and the Shanghai Composite index added 0.2% to 4,139.90. But the benchmark for the smaller market in Shenzhen dropped 0.1%. Taiwan's Taiex was up 0.8%, while India's Sensex edged 0.1% higher. The future for the S&P 500 gained 0.3% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.1% lower.

On Monday, the S&P 500 rose 0.5%, winning back its losses from last week’s dip to close at 6,950.23. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.6% to 49,412.40, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.4% to 23,601.36. Financial markets could face more swings in a week full of big tests. The Federal Reserve will announce its stance on interest rates on Wednesday, when it is expected to hold steady. It’s been lowering its main interest rate and has indicated more cuts may be on the way in 2026 to help shore up the job market and give the economy a boost. Inflation remains stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target and lower rates could worsen it.