Global markets attempt to rally after losses

Equities markets in the Asia-Pacific region were mixed on Thursday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 0.05 percent to 22,443.25, while the Straits Times index was also 0.05 percent lower, to 3,435.46. In addition, the Kospi index dropped 0.18 percent to 1,853.07. In India, the Sensex added 0.33 percent to 14,985.7, while the Taiex index gained 0.66 percent to 8,950.57 in Taiwan. In Australia, the Sydney Ordinaries were 1.02 percent higher to 6,050.3 and the S&P/ASX200 was up 1.19 percent to 6,011.8. The Shanghai Composite, meanwhile, added 2.49 percent to 4,407.73. In Tokyo the Nikkei 225 was 0.67 percent higher to 16,984.11 and the Topix index gained 0.03 percent to 1,669.33, but the Mothers market fell 0.21 percent to 830.18.

Markets also were higher in Europe. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.64 percent to 1,536.03. In Paris the CAC-40 was 0.49 percent higher to 5,682.07, while the IBEX gained 0.6 percent to 14,682.7 in Madrid and the Dax was up 0.81 percent to 7,534.13 in Frankfurt. In London, the FTSE 100 added 0.8 percent to 6,300.3 and the FTSE 250 was 0.39 percent higher to 11,233.

Wall Street was higher in early afternoon trade, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.36 percent higher to 13,413.01. The Nasdaq Composite had added 0.62 percent to 2,569.81, while the S&P 500 was up 0.21 percent to 1,468.94.

Crude oil prices were higher but remained lower than highs reached on Wednesday in New York, while most precious metals prices were higher. Copper prices declined slightly.

In currencies markets, the yen was weaker versus most major currencies.

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