Equities markets higher globally

Asian equities markets were higher on Monday, many rising by more than a full percentage point on the session. The Straits Times index in Singapore added 1.25 percent to 3,115.92, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong gained 1.65 percent to 19,266.74 and in India the Sensex was 1.73 percent higher to 12,644.99. In Japan, meanwhile, the Nikkei 225 added 1.6 percent to 17,009.55 and the Topix index was 1 percent higher to 1,694.08. The Tokyo banking sector was lower as worries continued over loan margins, but electronics gained as the yen weakened. The pharmaceuticals sector was mixed on the session.

In Europe, the FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 1.4 percent higher to 1,475.39. Other European indices also saw gains. In Moscow, the RTS added 1.05 percent to 1,828.23, while the Dax gained 1.39 percent to 6,671.41 and the CAC 40 gained 1.43 percent to 5,458.95 in Paris. Banks were higher on mergers and acquisitions news. The tobacco sector also saw gains, as did travel agents and car and truck makers.

London markets were higher as well, with the FTSE 100 0.96 percent higher to 6,189.4 and the FTSE 250 1.5 percent higher to 11,438.70, a gain of just over 169 points. In London, the focus was on the bids news in the banking sector, as well, while bids news also helped the travel sector. Bids news was not, however, good for the UK tobacco sector. Suppliers of plumbing and construction materials saw gains even though the US housing market, where some UK providers earn much of their money, is expected to remain hobbled for the rest of the year.

Early afternoon saw Wall Street higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average had gained 0.92 percent to 12,221.69, while the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.86 percent to 2,393.09 and the S&P 500 was 1 percent higher to 1,400.83. The US pharmaceuticals sector was mixed, while there was mergers news in the health care sector. The gains came ahead of a new decision on interest rates by the Federal Reserve this week.

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