Asian markets started Thursday on a mixed note, with investor focus pinned on the upcoming meeting between U.S. and Russian leaders on Friday. Sentiment was tempered by cautious trading in U.S. stock index futures, which remained largely unchanged after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at fresh record highs, buoyed by expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September.
In the U.S., Dow futures slipped 7 points to 44,916, down 0.02%, while Nasdaq futures were lower by 21 points at 23,828, down 0.09%. The U.S. Small Cap 2000 futures eased 3 points to 2,325, down 0.11%. European indicators were steady, with Germany’s DAX futures marginally lower by 3 points at 24,244, while the UK’s FTSE futures gained 16 points at 9,182, up 0.17%.
Across Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng futures rose 50 points to 25,681, up 0.19%, and South Korea’s KOSPI edged higher by 0.7 points to 3,225. Taiwan’s Taiex futures dipped 36 points to 24,307, down 0.15%, while Japan’s Nikkei index dropped sharply by 579 points to 42,696, down 1.36%. India’s Gift Nifty traded 26 points lower at 24,686, down 0.11% on an adjusted basis.
In the previous U.S. session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 463 points, or 1.04%, to 449,255, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 31 points, or 0.14%, to end at 21,713.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
