New threats from the US and China to hit each other with additional tariffs have been shaking up financial markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Share prices and Japanese bond yields are down -- while the yen has climbed against the US dollar to around a seven-and-a-half month high.
The Japanese yen dipped into the 104-yen range for the first time since January this year at one point. The Japanese currency is trading at around the 105 yen level against the dollar.
Investors are buying the yen as a safe-haven, after the latest tit-for-tat moves between the US and China.
Analysts see the 105 level as psychologically significant.
Another asset seen as safe is Japanese government bonds. Their prices have been rising, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year JGB heading lower to touch its lowest level since July of 2016.
Those currency and bond moves have triggered a plunge in share prices in Tokyo. The Nikkei 225 ended the morning session 451 points, or 2.2 percent lower, at 20,258. Most stocks in the index were trading lower.
