Most European equities markets see gains

European markets were mostly higher on Friday, but in Paris the CAC-40 dropped 0.3 percent to 4,709.65. The pan-European FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.47 percent to 1,302.36 while the Dax was up 0.5 percent to 6,767.28 in Frankfurt and Madrid’s IBEX gained 0.35 percent to 12,934.8. London’s markets saw gains, with the FTSE 100 adding 1.05 percent to 5,784 and the FTSE 250 gaining 0.44 percent to 9,807.5.

Many Asia-Pacific markets were still closed for holidays on Friday, and those markets which remained open in the region were mostly lower. Australian markets were higher, with the Sydney Ordinaries adding 0.98 percent to 5,723.9. The S&P/ASX200 was up 1.1 percent to 5,658. In India the Sensex was 0.35 percent lower to 17,464.89 while Shanghai’s FTSE Straits Times Index was down 3.5 percent to 2,931.97. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.44 percent to 13,017.24 and the Topix index was 1.37 percent lower to 1,287.14 while the Mothers market dropped 2.58 percent to 602.1.

Equities markets in New York were lower in afternoon trade after earlier gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.87 percent to 12,140.11 while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.71 percent to 2,292.32 and the S&P 500 dropped 1.02 percent to 1,326.56.

Crude oil and metals prices were up on the session. Grains prices were also higher, with wheat adding the daily limit in Chicago.

The Australian and New Zealand dollars saw gains, while the euro was hurt by comments indication that Eurozone interest rates will be cut soon.

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