New Delhi, 11 June (H.S.): Global markets signaled weakness on Thursday as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran continued to weigh on investor sentiment worldwide. U.S. markets ended the previous session sharply lower, while European markets closed with mixed results. Asian markets also witnessed mixed trading during early hours, reflecting uncertainty among investors.

The ongoing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Tehran have created pressure across global equity markets. In addition, weakness in semiconductor and chipmaker stocks during the previous session further dampened sentiment in the United States.

The U.S. benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 953.33 points, or 1.87 percent, to close at 49,918.78. The S&P 500 declined 119.66 points, or 1.62 percent, to finish at 7,266.99, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped 509.32 points, or 1.98 percent, to settle at 25,169.50.

However, Dow Jones Futures showed signs of recovery in early trading on Thursday, gaining 127.12 points, or 0.25 percent, to trade at 50,045.90.

European markets delivered mixed performances during the previous trading session. The FTSE Index advanced 0.27 percent to close at 10,254.81. In contrast, France's CAC Index declined 0.51 percent to end at 8,161.83, while Germany's DAX Index fell 237.75 points, or 0.98 percent, to close at 24,195.31.

Asian markets also displayed a mixed trend on Thursday. Of the nine major Asian indices being tracked, five were trading in negative territory while four remained in the green.

Japan's Nikkei Index was up 0.07 percent at 64,225. Singapore's Straits Times Index gained 0.12 percent to reach 4,964.65. South Korea's Kospi Index rose 0.18 percent to 7,744.93, while Thailand's SET Composite Index advanced 0.76 percent to 1,575.47.

On the downside, Gift Nifty was trading 0.08 percent lower at 23,122. Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index declined 0.83 percent to 5,853.21. Taiwan's Weighted Index dropped 507.09 points, or 1.17 percent, to 42,718.45. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 281.96 points, or 1.16 percent, to 24,126, while China's Shanghai Composite Index slipped 0.73 percent to trade at 3,964.24.

Market participants are closely monitoring geopolitical developments in the Middle East, as continued uncertainty is expected to influence global risk appetite and market direction in the coming sessions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar