IBEX adds 1.59 percent

In Europe, equities markets were higher on the session. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.65 percent higher to 1,539.28. Frankfurt’s Dax was up 0.45 percent to 7,804.15, while the CAC-40 added 0.87 percent to 5,690.77 and the IBEX jumped 1.59 percent to 14,540.5 in Madrid. London’s markets were higher as well. The FTSE 100 added 0.56 percent to 6,433 while the FTSE 250 gained 0.33 percent to 10,889.3.

Markets were mixed in the Asia-Pacific region on Wednesday. Among gainers, India’s Sensex was up 0.13 percent to 16,921.39 at the close, but it rose to a new record high of 17,073.87 during the session. In Taiwan, the Taiex added 1.67 percent to 9,257.47 on its first day back after a two-day holiday break. Australia’s markets were mixed. The Sydney Ordinaries gained 0.01 percent to 6,491.4, but the S&P/ASX200 was 0.02 percent lower to 6,481.4.

In Singapore, the Straits Times index closed lower at 3,650.09. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite fell 1.61 percent to 5,338.52. South Korea’s markets were closed for the third day in a row, while Hong Kong’s markets also closed for a holiday.

Meanwhile, in Tokyo the Nikkei 225 was 0.21 percent higher to 16,435.74 and the Topix index added 0.59 percent to 1,576.02, while the Mothers market jumped 8.13 percent to 682.78.

Wall Street was higher in early afternoon trade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.6 percent to 13,861, while the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.81 percent to 2,705.3 and the S&P 500 gained 0.57 percent to 1,525.86.

Crude oil prices fell after US stockpiles of oil and gasoline were unexpectedly higher. Precious metals prices were mixed, while among agricultural commodities prices for grains were higher.

The US dollar hit a new record low versus the euro for the fifth day in a row, but by midday in London it had rallied for a slight gain on the shared currency.

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