Global equity markets opened Thursday on a mixed note amid muted overnight sentiment and cautious optimism following a Wall Street rally. The gains in U.S. markets were spurred by the announcement of a new trade deal framework between the United States and the United Kingdom, while investors remained watchful for progress on broader trade negotiations, including a potential agreement with China.
U.S. stock futures showed minimal movement in early Asian hours. Dow Futures slipped 39 points or 0.09% to 41,329, while the Nasdaq Futures edged up 4 points or 0.02% to 20,068. The U.S. Small Cap 2000 Futures declined by 6 points or 0.28% to 2,021.
European futures signaled cautious optimism, with Germany’s DAX Futures rising 32 points or 0.14% to 23,501 and the UK’s FTSE Futures gaining 19 points or 0.22% to 8,558.
In Asia, indices displayed a mixed trend. Japan’s Nikkei outperformed with a gain of 427 points or 1.16% at 37,356, supported by tech and export-heavy stocks. Taiwan’s Taiex Futures also moved higher by 60 points or 0.29% to 20,638. However, South Korea’s KOSPI slipped marginally by 1.2 points or 0.04% to 2,578, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Futures were down 11 points or 0.05% at 22,738.
India’s Gift Nifty indicated a weaker start for domestic equities, trading 290 points lower at 23,982, a drop of 1.20% on an adjusted basis.
In the previous U.S. session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 255 points or 0.62% to close at 41,369. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 190 points or 1.07% to finish at 17,928, buoyed by strong buying in technology stocks.
