A roundup of trading on major world markets:
NEW YORK – Wall Street stocks have finished the first trading day of the new year little-changed following lacklustre US economic data and with many market participants still on holiday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Friday advanced 9.92 points (0.06 per cent) to 17,832.99.
The broad-based S&P 500 slipped 0.70 (0.03 per cent) to 2,058.20, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index fell 9.24 (0.20 per cent) to 4,726.81.
All three indices spent much of 2015’s first session in the red following reports that showed lower US construction spending in November and weaker manufacturing activity in December.
But stocks strengthened somewhat in the last 30 minutes, enabling the Dow to notch a small gain and cutting losses in the other two indices.
LONDON – European stock markets and the euro started 2015 badly, with the single currency sinking to four-year lows in response to fears of deflation.
European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi said the risk of deflation in the eurozone was “not excluded” and that preparations were under way to ward off an onset of tumbling prices.
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index lost 0.28 per cent to 6,547.80 points.
Frankfurt’s DAX 30 declined 0.42 per cent to 9,764.73 points and the CAC 40 in Paris slumped 0.48 per cent to 4,252.29 points.
The markets were trading weak all day and only briefly turned positive when Wall Street opened in positive territory.
The euro weakened to $US1.2018, down from $US1.2097 on Wednesday.
HONG KONG – Asian markets started 2015 on an upswing in limited trading, with mainland Chinese stocks surging in Hong Kong on speculation Beijing may ease monetary policy to boost slowing growth.
Hong Kong rose 1.07 per cent, closing 252.78 points higher at 23857.82.
Seoul closed up 0.57 per cent, rising 10.85 points to 1,926.44, while Sydney gained 0.46 per cent, or 24.89 points, to close at 5,435.9.
Singapore edged up 0.19 per cent, gaining 6.39 points to 3,371.54.
Markets in mainland China, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand remained closed for holidays.
With mainland bourses shut until January 5, shares in Chinese developers and financial companies surged in Hong Kong, stoked by hopes that Beijing could ease monetary policy to support lagging growth in the world’s second-largest economy.
WELLINGTON – The NZX 50 Index fell 8.92 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 5568.28.
