New Delhi, 17 April (H.S.):

Global markets presented a bifurcated landscape on Friday, with US indices extending measured gains from the prior session while European bourses concluded on a tepid note, and Asian counterparts grappling with pervasive selling. Dow Jones futures traded 0.10% higher at 48,625.27 points, signaling continuity in American optimism even as regional disparities underscored investor caution.

In the United States, the S&P 500 advanced 0.26% to close at 7,041.28, with the Nasdaq Composite following suit by rising 0.36% to 24,102.70, buoyed by sustained buying within confined ranges. Europe's performance proved uneven: London's FTSE index climbed 0.29% to 10,589.99, and Frankfurt's DAX surged 0.36% to 24,154.47, yet Paris's CAC 40 dipped 0.14% to 8,262.70.

Asia, however, bore the brunt of downside momentum, with seven of nine major indices in the red—Hang Seng plummeting 1.19% or 309.26 points to 26,085, Shanghai Composite sliding 0.30% to 4,043.45, and Nikkei shedding 0.89% or 525.34 points to 58,993. Exceptions included Gift Nifty's modest 0.11% gain to 24,217 and Jakarta Composite's 0.35% rise to 7,647.89, though Straits Times, SET Composite, KOSPI, and Taiwan Weighted also faltered amid broader risk aversion.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar