A roundup of trading on major world markets.
NEW YORK – US stocks are higher following a stream of mixed economic data in the last trading session ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
In the final hour of trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 17,838.91, up 26.72 points (0.15 per cent).
The broad-based S&P 500 added 2.39 points (0.11 per cent) at 2,091.53, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index rose 18.31 (0.34 per cent) to 5,121.12.
US data showed a dip in weekly jobless claims, but a disappointing gain of just 0.1 per cent in personal spending in October. Durable goods orders rose a solid 3.0 per cent based on strong transportation orders.
Trading volumes were expected to be light due to Thanksgiving. US stock markets are shut Thursday and will close early on Friday.
LONDON – Europe’s main stock markets have rebounded, taking a step back from geopolitical tensions to refocus on economic and corporate news.
The region’s equities had fallen on Tuesday with airlines and hotel groups hit by a US travel warning and the downing of a Russian fighter jet by Turkey.
At the close, London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index had risen 1.0 per cent, as a British government budget update announced fresh public spending cuts while shelving a plan to cut welfare payments for the poorest and sparing the police from savings after the Paris attacks
In the eurozone, Frankfurt’s DAX 30 closed up 2.2 per cent with Volkswagen and Allianz leading the gainers – both adding almost four per cent, while the Paris CAC 40 index was also up 1.4 per cent compared with Tuesday’s close, while Milan gained 1.1 per cent.
TOKYO – Asian stock markets have retreated with airlines taking a hit as dealers fret over increased geopolitical tensions following the downing of a Russian jet by Turkey.
Wednesday’s losses tracked a sell-off in tourism-linked firms in the United States and Europe as already delicate nerves were frayed on trading floors after Turkey shot down the Russian warplane on the Syrian border.
The incident also sent oil prices up on concern about supplies.
While Ankara said it acted after the jet entered its airspace, Russian President Vladimir Putin called it a “stab in the back” and warned of serious consequences. Moscow insists the plane was in Syrian territory.
Among Asian stock markets, Tokyo, Hong Kong were down, but Shanghai ended higher for a second straight day.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei index was down 0.4 per cent at 19,847.58, while the Han Seng index Hong Kong fell 0.4 per cent to 22,498.00, and the Shanghai composite was up 0.9 per cent at 3,647.93.
