New Delhi, 07 January (H.S.): Global markets are flashing positive signals today, with robust gains in the US and Europe contrasting mixed trends in Asia. Wall Street's upbeat start to the new year continues to bolster sentiment, while Asian indices show a split performance.

US markets closed higher in the previous session, fueled by sustained buying. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged nearly 500 points to close above 49,000 for the first time, gaining around 1,500 points over the past three trading days. The S&P 500 ended 0.64 percent higher at 6,946.28, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 157.77 points, or 0.67 percent, to 23,553.59. Dow Jones futures are currently trading up 134.73 points, or 0.27 percent, at 49,595.81.

European markets also advanced in their last session. The FTSE index climbed 118.16 points, or 1.17 percent, to 10,122.73. The CAC index gained 0.31 percent to settle at 8,237.43, and the DAX edged up 0.09 percent to 24,892.20.

Asian markets, however, are trading mixed today. Of nine major indices, four are in the green, while five are in the red.Gainers include the Shanghai Composite, up 0.29 percent at 4,095.54; Jakarta Composite, rising 0.23 percent to 8,954.19; SET Composite, advancing 0.11 percent to 1,276.10; and Straits Times Index, up a marginal 0.02 percent at 4,741.07.

Decliners feature Gift Nifty, down 0.23 percent at 26,219; Taiwan Weighted Index, falling 99.92 points or 0.33 percent to 30,476.38; Hang Seng Index, dropping 252.45 points or 0.95 percent to 26,458; Nikkei Index, down 442.08 points or 0.84 percent at 52,076; and Kospi Index, declining 0.31 percent to 4,511.32.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar