New Delhi, August 22 (HS): Global markets are showing mixed signals on Friday as investors remain cautious ahead of a key policy announcement from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell later in the evening. While most U.S. indices closed lower overnight, Dow Jones futures are currently trading with mild gains. European and Asian markets are also witnessing a choppy session.
On Wall Street, technology stocks led the decline, keeping sentiment muted. The S&P 500 slipped 0.40% to close at 6,370.17, while the Nasdaq dropped 0.34% to 21,100.31, marking the fourth straight session of weakness. In contrast, Dow Jones futures were marginally higher, up 0.06% at 44,813.96, hinting at some resilience ahead of Powell’s statement on interest rates.
European indices ended Thursday’s session on a mixed note. The FTSE 100 gained 0.23% to 9,309.20, and Germany’s DAX edged higher by 0.07% to 24,293.34, while France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.44% to 7,938.29.
Asian markets are also trading mixed today. Out of nine major indices, six are in positive territory while three are under pressure. Gift Nifty is down 139 points (0.55%) at 24,973.50, reflecting caution in Indian equities. Similarly, Taiwan’s Weighted Index fell 0.25% to 23,901.37, and Japan’s Nikkei slipped 0.16% to 42,542.
On the stronger side, Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.37% to 4,246.37, South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.64% to 3,161.73, Thailand’s SET Composite jumped 0.74% to 1,254.03, China’s Shanghai Composite climbed 0.67% to 3,796.36, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged 0.15% higher to 25,142, and Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite inched 0.03% higher to 7,893.39.
Investor sentiment across global markets remains cautious as traders await signals from the Fed chief on the future trajectory of U.S. interest rates—a key factor likely to dictate near-term market direction.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
