HONG KONG, China — Asian financial markets displayed volatility on Friday as the positive mood sparked by discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was counteracted by a public spat between President Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The highly anticipated meeting between the leaders of the United States and China generated optimism regarding a potential easing of trade tensions following Trump’s recent imposition of tariffs targeting Chinese imports.

Investors had hoped that these discussions would pave the way for an eventual resolution to the ongoing trade disputes that have negatively impacted both countries' economies.

Despite this diplomatic engagement, investor confidence was shaken by an unexpected exchange of insults between Trump and Musk, which unfolded on social media.

Musk's electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla saw its shares plummet by over 14 percent, and concerns over potential ramifications for Tesla’s government contracts arose after Trump publicly threatened the company.

Early trading in Asian markets reflected this uncertainty, with several key indices experiencing fluctuations.

Notably, Hong Kong's index reversed three days of gains, while markets in Shanghai and Taiwan also experienced declines.

Conversely, the markets in Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, and Wellington reported slight increases.

Market analysts have pointed to the tension between the two high-profile figures as a significant factor keeping traders on edge.

Chris Weston from Pepperstone stated that while the Trump-Xi conversation appeared to be a positive step, the lack of concrete outcomes prompted renewed focus on the controversy surrounding Musk and Trump.

As Asian markets responded to these developments, traders remained cautious ahead of the U.S. jobs report scheduled for release later in the day.

This report comes after disappointing numbers released earlier in the week regarding private sector hiring, raising alarms about the overall health of the U.S. labor market.

These job figures are of critical interest, especially in light of expectations that the Federal Reserve may resume interest rate cuts in September.

Economic experts have warned, however, that Trump's tariffs could exacerbate inflationary pressures within the economy.

Stephen Innes from SPI Asset Management cautioned that while weak job statistics may indicate economic vulnerability, a robust jobs report might negatively impact market sentiment.

He elaborated on this dynamic, remarking that a strong economic performance could lead to diminished investor expectations for interest rate cuts by the Fed, creating a paradox where favorable news in the economy translates to unfavorable outcomes in the stock market.

Key market indicators as of around 0230 GMT included:

- Tokyo's Nikkei 225: UP 0.5 percent at 37,730.67
- Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.3 percent at 23,844.13
- Shanghai Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,382.06
- Euro to dollar exchange: DOWN at $1.1435 from $1.1444 on Thursday
- Pound to dollar exchange: DOWN at $1.3567 from $1.3571
- Dollar to yen exchange: UP at 143.84 yen from 143.58 yen
- Euro to pound exchange: DOWN at 84.27 pence from 84.31 pence
- West Texas Intermediate crude oil: DOWN 0.3 percent at $63.16 per barrel
- Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 0.3 percent at $65.17 per barrel
- New York's Dow Jones Industrial Average: DOWN 0.3 percent at 42,319.74 (close)
- London’s FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 8,811.04 (close)