European markets mixed on session

European markets were mixed on Monday. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up, but only by 0.01 percent, or one-fifth of a point, to 1,546.48. Madrid’s IBEX added 0.32 percent to 14,497.6, but the Dax dropped 0.08 percent to 7,787.92 in Frankfurt, while the Paris CAC-40 fell 0.14 percent to 5,692.49. London’s markets were also mixed. The FTSE 100 was 0.14 percent higher to 6,465.9, but the FTSE 250 fell 0.49 percent to 11,040.8.

Wall Street was higher in midday trade Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.14 percent to 13,839.94, while the Nasdaq Composite had added 0.53 percent to 2,685.51 and the S&P 500 was 0.71 percent higher to 1,526.46.

Asia-Pacific equities markets saw gains. The Shanghai Composite was 0.56 percent higher to 5,485.01, while in India the Sensex gained 1.7 percent to 16,845.83. Singapore’s Straits Times index closed higher at 3,693.02. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng topped the 26,000 level for the first time to close at 26,551.94 for a new record high. The Hang Seng added 2.74 percent on the session and has risen 23 percent since 20 August. In Australia the Sydney Ordinaries added 1.41 percent to 6,461.1 and the S&P/ASX200 was up 1.47 percent to 6,451.5. Tokyo’s markets were closed to observe the Autumn Equinox, and South Korean and Taiwanese markets were also closed for holidays.

Crude oil prices were lower as threatening weather turned out not to be a problem for oil producing regions in the Gulf of Mexico, while metals prices saw gains. Grain prices, on the other hand, were lower.

The US dollar weakened again, while the yen saw gains on news that a new prime minister had been selected. Meanwhile, prices rose and yields fell on US Treasury bonds.

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