Asian markets gain on session

Equities markets in the Asia and Pacific regions saw gains on Thursday. The Sydney Ordinaries added 0.26 percent to 6,189.4 after taking a day off for the Anzac Day holiday. In India, the Sensex gained 0.08 percent to 14,228.88. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was 0.64 percent higher to 20,66 7.29, while the Straits Times Index in Singapore was up 1.31 percent to 3,406.89. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 was 1.1 percent higher at the close, to 17,429.17, while the Topix index added 1 percent to 1,703.41. Gainers on the day included components of the electronics sector, some carmakers, and shippers. The semiconductors sector and some consumer finance companies saw losses on the day.

Wall Street was slightly higher at midday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.08 percent to 13,100.3, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.16 percent to 2,551.99 and the S&P 500 gained 0.07 percent to 1,494.31. Some of the gains, especially in the oil and computers sectors, were driven by positive quarterly reports. The software sector saw gains as well, as did carmakers and some fast food restaurant chains.

The London markets also saw gains, with the FTSE 100 up 0.12 percent to 6,469.4 and the FTSE 250 closing at 11,934.6, 0.26 percent higher on the session. The mining sector was mostly lower, mainly due to declines in the prices of metals. Some banks were also lower, while publishing and internet gaming sectors saw declines as well.

Meanwhile, European markets were mostly higher. The exception was the CAC-40, which dropped 0.05 percent to 5,944.44. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 added 0.12 percent to 1,575.89, while in Frankfurt the Xetra Dax gained 0.6 percent to 7,387.02. The automobile manufacturing sector in Europe was mixed. Elsewhere, the logistics sector saw gains on rumors of consolidation within the sector. Declines came in the semiconductors sector and among hotel operators.

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