New Delhi, 20 July (H.S.): Global markets presented mixed signals on Monday, with US equities ending the previous session in negative territory, European markets closing with mixed results and Asian markets witnessing a mixed trading pattern. Meanwhile, Dow Jones Futures was trading marginally higher in early trade.

Investor sentiment remained cautious after crude oil prices surged sharply in the international market due to the escalating conflict in West Asia, raising fresh concerns over global inflation. The spike in oil prices weighed on Wall Street during the previous trading session.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 406.55 points, or 0.77 per cent, to close at 52,146.42. The S&P 500 also fell 76.08 points, or 1.01 per cent, to settle at 7,457.69. The Nasdaq Composite recorded the steepest decline among the major US indices, losing 361.70 points, or 1.40 per cent, to end at 25,520.24.

However, Dow Jones Futures was trading marginally higher, gaining 0.05 points to reach 52,146.47, indicating a flat to slightly positive opening for US markets.

European markets delivered mixed performances in the previous session. The UK's FTSE 100 advanced 0.27 per cent to close at 10,600.37. In contrast, France's CAC 40 slipped 0.47 per cent to 8,338.81, while Germany's DAX declined 0.34 per cent to finish at 24,830.98.

Asian markets also traded on a mixed note on Monday. Among the nine major Asian markets, four indices were trading in positive territory, while four were in the red. Trading remained closed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange due to a market holiday, leaving the Nikkei Index unchanged.

Gift Nifty was trading lower by 191 points, or 0.78 per cent, at 24,158, indicating a weak opening trend for the Indian equity market.

Taiwan's Weighted Index declined 0.20 per cent to 42,588. South Korea's Kospi witnessed sharp selling pressure and was down 261.18 points, or 3.83 per cent, at 6,559.42. Thailand's SET Composite Index also edged lower by 0.12 per cent to 1,637.03.

On the positive side, Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index gained 0.87 per cent to trade at 6,229.19. China's Shanghai Composite advanced 1.18 per cent to 3,808.39. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index emerged as one of the strongest performers in the region, surging 509.76 points, or 2.08 per cent, to 25,072. Meanwhile, Singapore's Straits Times Index was trading marginally higher, gaining 0.02 per cent to reach 5,510.74.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar