New Delhi, 22 April (H.S.):

International bourses signaled frailty, with US indices closing lower in the prior session due to Iran's dismissal of second-round peace talks in the volatile Middle East, though Dow futures hinted at a rebound; European markets echoed the pessimism, while Asia presented a bifurcated landscape.

Wall Street succumbed to bearish pressures, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 292.96 points—or 0.59%—to 49,149.60. The S&P 500 shed 0.63% to 7,064.01, and Nasdaq retreated 144.43 points—or 0.59%—to 24,259.96, underscoring investor aversion amid escalating West Asian tensions disrupting oil flows.

Yet, Dow Jones futures staged a nascent recovery, climbing 220.27 points—or 0.45%—to 49,369.65, suggesting potential stabilization if risk appetite revives.

Continental Europe fared no better: London's FTSE index plunged 110.99 points—or 1.06%—to 10,498.09; France's CAC 40 slid 95.33 points—or 1.16%—to 8,235.72; and Germany's DAX dipped 146.93 points—or 0.61%—to 24,270.87, reflecting contagion from transatlantic volatility and energy cost anxieties.

Asian markets carved a divided path, with nine major indices splitting evenly: five in red, four in green. Taiwan Weighted surged 410.16 points—or 1.09%—to 38,015.27; Japan's Nikkei ascended 232.83 points—or 0.39%—to 59,582; Shanghai Composite leaped 0.24% to 4,095.07; and SET Composite edged up 0.19% to 1,486.37.

Conversely, Gift Nifty weakened 174 points—or 0.71%—to 24,401, presaging softer Indian opens; Straits Times fell 0.46% to 4,992.05; Hang Seng cratered 299.48 points—or 1.14%—to 26,188; Jakarta Composite eased 0.13% to 7,549.27; and Kospi slipped marginally 0.02% to 6,387.24.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar