AP – Global shares were mixed in muted trading yesterday, as a wait and see mood prevailed in markets around the world.
France’s CAC 40 edged up nearly 0.1 per cent in early trading to 8,157.27, while Germany’s DAX added 0.3 per cent to 18,312.04. Britain’s FTSE 100 slipped nearly 0.1 per cent to 7,909.88.
United States (US) shares drifted higher with Dow futures up 0.2 per cent at 39,787.00. S&P 500 futures rose 0.4 per cent to 5,297.50.
In Asia, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225, where computer chip-related issues had interested investors early, reversed course to be little changed, inching down less than 0.1 per cent to finish at 40,398.03.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.4 per cent to 7,780.20. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.7 per cent to 2,757.09.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 0.9 per cent to 16,618.32, while the Shanghai Composite added 0.2 per cent to 3,031.48.
Analysts have been watching various global uncertainties, including in the Middle East and Russia, that affect energy prices as well as investor sentiments.
In energy trading, benchmark US crude rose 16 cents to USD82.11 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added nine cents to USD86.84 a barrel.
An attack late last week at a concert hall in Moscow was claimed by the Islamic State group. Gaza was in focus with the United Nations Security Council issuing its first demand for a cease-fire. The US abstained, angering Israel.
“Potential flares in oil prices on geopolitical tensions remained ever present,” said Tan Jing Yi at Mizuho Bank.
This week’s highlight for financial markets may be Friday’s report on US consumer spending. It will also include the latest update on the measure of inflation that the Federal Reserve (Fed) prefers to use.
But US markets will be closed in observance of Good Friday, and the bond market will close early tomorrow, which could bunch up trades in anticipation of the report.
Despite a string of recent reports that showed inflation remaining hotter than expected, the Fed seems to expect inflation to continue its longer-term cooling trend.
In currency trading, the US dollar edged down to JPY151.28 from JPY151.41. The euro cost USD1.0854, up from USD1.0840.
