New Delhi, 13 July (H.S.):

Escalating tensions in West Asia dampened global market sentiment on Monday, triggering widespread weakness across Asian equity markets. Although U.S. markets ended the previous session in positive territory, Dow Jones futures were trading lower, reflecting renewed investor concerns. European markets delivered mixed performances in the previous session, while most Asian indices remained under selling pressure.

On Wall Street, semiconductor stocks led gains on Friday, helping the major U.S. indices close higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.29 percent to close at 52,637.01. The S&P 500 gained 0.42 percent to settle at 7,575.39, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.29 percent to finish at 26,281.61.

However, market sentiment weakened at the start of the new trading week. Dow Jones futures were trading 216.67 points, or 0.41 percent, lower at 52,420.34.

European markets ended Friday's session on a mixed note. The FTSE Index gained 0.24 percent to close at 10,497.29, while France's CAC Index rose 0.15 percent to 8,338.97. In contrast, Germany's DAX Index declined 0.20 percent to close at 25,067.09.

Asian markets were largely under pressure on Monday, with seven of the region's nine major indices trading in negative territory, while only two posted gains.

Taiwan's Weighted Index was among the few gainers, rising 267.90 points, or 0.59 percent, to 45,622.51. Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index also edged higher by 0.03 percent to 5,925.97.

On the downside, Gift Nifty slipped 219 points, or 0.90 percent, to 24,015.50. Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.28 percent to 5,453.92.

South Korea's Kospi witnessed sharp selling pressure, plunging 556.83 points, or 7.45 percent, to 6,919.11.

Japan's Nikkei Index also came under broad-based selling, declining 1,542.73 points, or 2.25 percent, to 67,015. China's Shanghai Composite Index dropped 1.54 percent to 3,934.74, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slipped 0.21 percent to 24,125. Thailand's SET Composite Index also traded lower, easing 0.11 percent to 1,619.82.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar