New Delhi, 08 June (H.S.):

Global markets are exhibiting signs of weakness on Monday as escalating tensions in the Middle East and a sharp rise in crude oil prices continue to dampen investor sentiment. U.S. markets closed significantly lower in the previous session, while Dow Jones Futures remained under pressure in early trading. European markets ended the last session with mixed results after trading weak for most of the day, and most Asian markets are also witnessing sustained selling pressure.

U.S. equities recorded substantial losses in the previous trading session, led by a sharp sell-off in technology stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 695.15 points, or 1.35 per cent, to close at 50,866.78. The S&P 500 Index dropped 200.57 points, or 2.64 per cent, ending the session at 7,383.74. The Nasdaq Composite suffered the steepest decline, falling 1,121.53 points, or 4.18 per cent, to close at 25,709.43.

Dow Jones Futures also reflected continued weakness on Monday, trading lower by approximately 0.13 per cent and hovering around the 50,798.51 level.

European markets remained under pressure throughout much of the previous session. However, late buying activity helped limit losses and resulted in mixed closing performances. London's FTSE Index edged up 0.07 per cent to finish at 10,368.05. In contrast, France's CAC 40 Index declined 0.32 per cent to close at 8,218.24, while Germany's DAX Index fell 185.90 points, or 0.75 per cent, to end the session at 24,759.05.

Asian markets are also largely trading in negative territory on Monday. Of the nine major Asian indices being monitored, eight were trading lower, while only one remained in positive territory.

Gift Nifty was the sole outperformer, gaining 119.50 points, or 0.52 per cent, to trade at 23,217.

Singapore's Straits Times Index declined 72.56 points, or 1.43 per cent, to 4,977.50. Thailand's SET Composite Index slipped 0.71 per cent to 1,571.32.

South Korea's KOSPI Index registered one of the steepest declines in the region, falling 371.71 points, or 4.55 per cent, to 7,788.88.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Index was down 2,413.12 points, or 3.62 per cent, at 64,175. Taiwan's Weighted Index dropped 1,449.35 points, or 3.22 per cent, to 43,621.59, while Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index declined 142.92 points, or 2.55 per cent, to 5,451.85.

China's Shanghai Composite Index bucked the broader regional trend, advancing 1.26 per cent to 3,976.83. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 288.95 points, or 1.16 per cent, to trade at 24,673.

Market participants across the globe remain focused on geopolitical developments in the Middle East, fluctuations in energy prices and their potential impact on inflation and economic growth. The combination of rising crude oil prices and heightened geopolitical uncertainty continues to fuel risk aversion across major financial markets.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar