Asian, US markets higher

Equities markets in the Asia Pacific region were higher on Monday. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index added 0.11 percent to 20,927.75, while in Singapore the Straits Times index was 0.2 percent higher to 3,514.49. In India, the Sensex gained 0.81 to 14,418.6. The Sydney Ordinaries added 0.84 percent to 6,372.5 in Australia. Weakness in the yen sent Tokyo’s markets higher. The Nikkei 225 gained 0.9 percent to 17,556.87, while the Topix index closed at 1,710.67, a gain of 0.9 percent as well. Shippers were higher in Tokyo, as was the electronics sector. There were also gains among education companies after bids news.

Wall Street was higher at midday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was fractionally higher to 13,559.86, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.45 percent to 2,569.99 and the S&P 500 was at 1,529.25, above its highest close ever. The retail sector was lower on quarterly reports, while internet companies saw declines on bids rumors. General Electric (NYSE: GE) gained after it announced the sale of its plastics unit, while the media sector was mixed on uncertainties over bids.

Almost all European markets were lower on the session, with the Dax in Frankfurt a notable exception with a gain of 0.15 percent to 7,619.31. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 dropped 0.13 percent to 1,598.13, while the Paris CAC-40 fell 0.18 percent to 6,089.91. The London markets were lower as well. The FTSE 100 dropped 0.06 percent to 6,636.8, while the FTSE 250 fell 0.01 percent to 12,201.5. Banks were mixed, as was the pharmaceuticals sector. Carmakers saw gains. In London, miners were higher, as were travel agents. There were declines among supermarkets.

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