Australia, Tokyo markets see declines

There were few gains in Asia-Pacific region equities markets again on Tuesday. The Shanghai Composite added 0.07 percent to 5,425.21, while Singapore’s Straits Times index gained 0.4 percent to 3,477.75. Meanwhile, in India, the Sensex was up 1.06 percent to 15,669.12. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed lower at 24,576.85, while the Taiex dropped 1.46 percent to 8,899.91. In Korea, the Kospi was 1.77 percent lower to 1,838.61. The Sydney Ordinaries fell 1.2 percent to 6,208, while the S&P/ASX200 was down 1.26 percent to 6,192.5. Tokyo’s markets were lower as they reopened after Monday’s Respect for the Aged Day holiday. The Nikkei 225 dropped 2.02 percent to 15,801.80, while the Topix index fell 2.19 percent to 1,510.95 and the Mothers market was 2.64 percent lower to 620.42.

European markets were higher after Monday’s declines. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 1.54 percent to 1,509. The Dax was up 1.27 percent to 7,575.21 in Frankfurt, while the Paris CAC-40 gained 2.02 percent to 5,549.35 and Madrid’s IBEX was 2.52 percent higher to 14,042. There were also gains in London’s equities markets. The FTSE 100 added 1.63 to 6,283.3 and the FTSE 250 gained 0.54 percent to 10,802.8.

Wall Street was higher in midday trade ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates, due at mid-afternoon New York time. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.61 percent higher to 13,485.52, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.55 percent to 2,595.83 and the S&P 500 gained 0.71 percent to 1,487.19.

Crude oil prices were higher, with New York prices going above $81 for the first time. Precious metals and copper were up in New York, while prices for base metals were mixed in London. Among agricultural commodities, grains were higher but livestock was mixed.

The US dollar was steady ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates.

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