New Delhi, 16 January (H.S.): Global equity markets radiated positive cues on Friday, with robust U.S. gains from the prior session and advancing Dow Jones futures counterbalancing mixed performances across Europe and Asia.

Wall Street's Upward Momentum

American markets concluded Wednesday's trading with firm advances driven by sustained buying pressure: the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged nearly 300 points, while the S&P 500 rose 0.20 percent to 6,940.59 and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.18 percent to 23,514.02. Dow futures extended the optimism, trading 129.41 points—or 0.26 percent—higher at 49,571.85 during early ASI an

hours.

Europe's Varied Close

European bourses delivered a bifurcated session on Thursday: London's FTSE index advanced 0.53 percent to 10,238.94, Germany's DAX gained 0.26 percent at 25,352.39, but France's CAC 40 dipped 0.21 percent to 8,313.12.

Asia's Patchwork Performance

Asian markets traded unevenly Friday, with six of nine major indices in green territory and three lagging. Japan's Nikkei slipped 115.50 points—or 0.21 percent—to 53,995, Hong Kong's Hang Seng eased 0.21 percent to 26,868, and Shanghai Composite fell 0.22 percent to 4,103.45.

Taiwan Weighted index, however, rocketed 525.01 points—or 1.70 percent—to 31,335.59, South Korea's Kospi rose 0.80 percent to 4,835.71, Jakarta Composite added 0.47 percent at 9,075.41, SET Composite gained 0.25 percent to 1,264.56, Straits Times climbed 0.23 percent to 4,844.50, and Gift Nifty firmed 0.08 percent at 25,804.50.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar