New Delhi, 16 September (H.S.):

Global markets are providing mixed signals today. US markets closed lower in the previous session, although Dow Jones futures are currently trading higher. European markets also remained under sustained pressure during the previous session. In contrast, Asian markets are generally trading on a firm note today.

Wall Street remained under selling pressure during the previous session. Investors continued to exercise caution amid rising US Treasury yields, growing concerns over interest rates and a surge in crude oil prices. The impact was clearly reflected in declines across the major Wall Street indices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 328.09 points, or 0.63 percent, to close at 52,093.11.

Similarly, the S&P 500 Index ended the previous session at 7,585.73, down 0.45 percent. The Nasdaq Composite also declined 204.84 points, or 0.78 percent, to close at 25,981.57. In contrast, Dow Jones futures were currently trading 113.77 points, or 0.22 percent, higher at 52,206.88.

European markets also remained under persistent selling pressure during the previous session. The FTSE Index declined 0.37 percent to close at 10,658.13. Similarly, the CAC Index fell 0.34 percent to end the session at 8,090.28, while the DAX Index slipped 0.15 percent to close at 25,402.28.

In contrast to the US and European markets, Asian markets were generally witnessing buying interest today. Of the nine major Asian markets, eight indices were trading in positive territory, while one index remained in the red. The SET Composite Index was the only major Asian index trading lower, down 0.31 percent at 1,573.79.

Meanwhile, GIFT Nifty was trading 0.14 percent higher at 23,235.50. Similarly, the Straits Times Index had gained 0.09 percent to reach 5,625.85. South Korea’s KOSPI Index was witnessing a sharp rise, gaining 83.27 points, or 1.24 percent, to reach 6,710.53.

The Taiwan Weighted Index also registered a strong gain, rising 503.25 points, or 1.09 percent, to 46,014.74. Similarly, the Jakarta Composite Index was trading 0.62 percent higher at 6,501.39.

The Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.57 percent at 3,886.48, while the Nikkei Index was trading 0.52 percent higher at 63,819. The Hang Seng Index was also in positive territory, gaining 0.10 percent to trade at 24,693.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar