New Delhi, 20 April (H.S.):

Global market sentiment remained broadly positive on Monday, supported by a firm close in U.S. equities in the previous session, although trading in Asia turned mixed in early deals.

The U.S. market had ended on a strong note in the last session as hopes of easing tensions in West Asia lifted investor confidence. The S&P 500 rose 84.78 points, or 1.20 percent, to close at 7,126.06, while the Nasdaq gained 365.78 points, or 1.52 percent, to finish at 24,468.48. However, Dow Jones futures were trading lower by 377.39 points, or 0.76 percent, at 49,070.04.

European markets also maintained a bullish tone in the previous session. The FTSE index advanced 0.73 percent to close at 10,667.63, while the CAC jumped 162.43 points, or 1.93 percent, to 8,425.13. The DAX climbed 547.77 points, or 2.22 percent, to end at 24,702.24.

Asian markets, meanwhile, showed a mixed trend in early trade. Of the nine major Asian indices, six were in positive territory, while three were trading lower. GIFT Nifty slipped 0.10 percent to 24,394.50, the SET Composite index fell 0.18 percent to 1,479.76, and the Jakarta Composite index was down 0.02 percent at 7,632.66.

On the gainers’ side, the Straits Times Index rose 0.16 percent to 5,005.97, the Shanghai Composite gained 0.67 percent to 4,078.39, and the Taiwan Weighted Index surged 521.93 points, or 1.42 percent, to 37,326.27. The Kospi climbed 1.12 percent to 6,261.19, while the Nikkei advanced 645.10 points, or 1.10 percent, to 59,121, and the Hang Seng rose 272.67 points, or 1.04 percent, to 26,433.

The overall picture suggests that global markets are drawing support from improved risk appetite, even as Asian investors remain cautious and selective in early trade.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar