New Delhi, 18 September (H.S.): Global markets remained upbeat amid a decline in international crude oil prices. Positive developments were reported across most stock markets worldwide. U.S. markets closed higher in the previous session, while Dow Jones futures were also trading firmly today. European markets likewise witnessed sustained buying during the previous session. Asian markets, meanwhile, were broadly trading with a positive bias today.

Encouraged by the weakness in crude oil prices, Wall Street indices closed higher in the previous session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.61 percent. Similarly, the S&P 500 rose 85.95 points, or 1.14 percent, to close the previous session at 7,637.76 points. The Nasdaq also climbed 439.87 points, or 1.69 percent, to close at 26,418.30 points. Meanwhile, Dow Jones futures were currently up 115.25 points, or 0.22 percent, at 51,893.29 points.

European markets also remained buoyant during the previous session. The FTSE index jumped 127.67 points, or 1.18 percent, to close at 10,816.14 points. Similarly, the CAC index gained 0.57 percent to end the previous session at 8,186.93 points. The DAX index also advanced 178.96 points, or 0.70 percent, to close at 25,716.71 points.

Asian markets were also broadly trading higher today. Of the nine Asian markets being tracked, seven indices were trading in positive territory, while two were in the red. GIFT Nifty was trading with a marginal decline of 0.01 percent at 23,330 points. Similarly, the Jakarta Composite Index slipped 0.39 percent to 6,437.11 points.

On the other hand, the Straits Times Index was trading 0.13 percent higher at 5,645.75 points. Likewise, the SET Composite Index gained 0.17 percent to reach 1,585.97 points. The KOSPI index witnessed a sharp rise today, gaining 168.36 points, or 2.51 percent, to reach 6,883.77 points.

The Nikkei index also registered a strong gain today. It was currently up 1,034.75 points, or 1.61 percent, at 65,171 points. Similarly, the Taiwan Weighted Index rose 644.35 points, or 1.39 percent, to 46,932.35 points. In addition, the Shanghai Composite Index was trading 1.04 percent higher at 3,916.07 points, while the Hang Seng Index gained 156.71 points, or 0.63 percent, to trade at 24,761 points.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar