New Delhi, 19 August (H.S.): Global markets are sending weak signals on Wednesday, with US equities closing lower in the previous session, Dow Jones futures also trading in negative territory, and Asian markets largely facing selling pressure. European markets, meanwhile, ended the previous session on a mixed note.

US equities remained under pressure amid a sell-off in global bonds and rising crude oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 116 points, or 0.20 per cent, while the S&P 500 fell 0.69 per cent to close at 7,691.76 points. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 355.20 points, or 1.33 per cent, to end the previous session at 26,289.71 points.

Dow Jones futures were also trading lower on Wednesday, declining 0.10 per cent to 53,292.38 points at the time of reporting.

European markets ended mixed after remaining under pressure during the previous session. The FTSE index gained 0.07 per cent to close at 10,728.04 points. In contrast, the CAC index fell 0.83 per cent to end at 8,509.36 points, while the DAX declined 210.25 points, or 0.80 per cent, to settle at 26,128.36 points.

Asian markets were also witnessing considerable pressure on Wednesday. Of the nine major Asian indices tracked, eight were trading in the red, while only one was in positive territory.

The Hang Seng was the only major Asian index showing gains, rising 59.85 points, or 0.23 per cent, to trade at 25,531 points.

In contrast, GIFT Nifty was down 72 points, or 0.30 per cent, at 24,107 points. Singapore's Straits Times Index declined 0.27 per cent to 5,686.17 points.

South Korea's KOSPI came under particularly heavy selling pressure, plunging 398.53 points, or 5.80 per cent, to 6,471.30 points.

Japan's Nikkei also witnessed a sharp decline, falling 1,871.73 points, or 2.77 per cent, to 65,589 points.

China's Shanghai Composite was similarly weak, declining 78.13 points, or 1.96 per cent, to 3,912.17 points.

Taiwan's Weighted Index fell 526.28 points, or 1.16 per cent, to 44,782.40 points. The SET Composite Index of Thailand declined 0.51 per cent to 1,613.27 points, while Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index slipped 0.38 per cent to 6,425.48 points.

The broad weakness across Asian markets reflects cautious investor sentiment following declines in US equities, higher crude oil prices and pressure in global bond markets.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar