New Delhi, 11 May (H.S.): Global markets are reflecting cautious sentiment this morning, with oil prices leading to a downbeat mood, even as American indexes closed higher in the prior session. U.S. equity futures are dipping at the open today, while European bourses finished the last session in the red, and Asian markets are showing a mixed picture with gains and losses spread across the region.

In the previous session, major U.S. indexes ended higher, underpinned by strength in artificial‑intelligence‑linked stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up a modest 0.02% at 49,609.16, while the S&P 500 index gained 0.84% to 7,398.93, logging a record high. The Nasdaq Composite rose 440.88 points, or 1.71%, to 26,247.08, its highest closing level yet.

However, the mood has turned slightly cautious overnight. Dow futures are now trading down 106.84 points, or 0.22%, at 49,502.32, pointing to a weaker start for Wall Street later in the day.

European bourses slipped steadily in the previous session as selling pressure built across key benchmarks. London’s FTSE 100 index closed 0.43% lower at 10,233.07, while Paris’s CAC 40 index shed 186.85 points, or 2.30%, to 8,112.57. Frankfurt’s DAX index fell 324.98 points, or 1.34%, to 24,338.63, reflecting broad‑based risk‑off sentiment.

Across Asia, trading is mixed, with more than half of the major indices in the green but several key benchmarks under pressure. Out of nine major Asian markets, five indexes are higher and four are lower, underscoring a neutral‑to‑cautious regional backdrop.

On the downside, the Gift Nifty is trading 339.50 points, or 1.40%, lower at 23,900.50, while Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite index has slipped 84.55 points, or 1.21%, to 6,884.85. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index is off 71.71 points, or 0.27%, at 26,322, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 has eased 88.65 points, or 0.14%, to 62,625.

On the brighter side, Taiwan’s Weighted index has surged 378.55 points, or 0.91%, to 41,982.49, and China’s Shanghai Composite index has jumped 0.94% to 4,219.13. Seoul’s KOSPI index is showing particularly strong momentum, up 334.27 points, or 4.46%, to 7,832.27. The Straits Times index of Singapore is up 0.29% at 4,936.34, and Thailand’s SET Composite index has gained 0.22% to 1,503.72.

The combination of firmer crude prices, a softer start for U.S. futures, and a patchwork pattern in Asia suggests that global investors are split between optimism over AI‑driven growth and caution over valuation and macro risks.

While some regional equity markets, particularly in Korea and China, are holding up well, the broader sentiment leans towards consolidation rather than a fresh, aggressive risk‑on phase.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar