TOKYO, April 24 -- Asian markets were mixed on todayy as China poured cold water on US President Donald Trump's comments talking up the prospects of a deal to end their trade war.

Trump said on Wednesday that Washington would have a "fair deal with China" and that there was direct contact "every day". On Tuesday he had said tariffs would "come down substantially".

But China said today that there were no negotiations ongoing.

"Any claims about the progress of China-US economic and trade negotiations are groundless and have no factual basis," Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong told a news conference.

"China urges the United States to correct its wrong practices, show the sincerity needed for talks (and) return to the correct track of...