Asia-Pacific markets higher

European markets were higher in Thursday‘s trade, in some cases substantially so. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was up 0.89 percent to 1,593.67. The IBEX gained 0.94 percent to 14,819.9 in Madrid. In Paris, the CAC-40 was 1.09 percent higher to 6,006.31, while the Dax added 1.54 percent in Frankfurt to close at 7,921.36. Steelmakers, car and truck manufacturers, power generators, and the oil sector were all higher. On the other hand, drinks makers and airlines struggled

In London, the FTSE 100 was up 0.67 percent to 6,571.3, while the FTSE 250 gained 1.12 percent to 11,519.2. Power generators saw advances in the UK as well as on the continent, while miners and business services companies also gained on the session. Book and music retailers and the defense sector, however, were lower on the session.

Asia-Pacific markets were up as well. The Sensex was up by 0.51 percent to 14,504.57. The Straits Times index in Singapore gained 0.64 percent to 3,538.23, while the Hang Seng index added 1.07 percent to 21,938.22 in Hong Kong. The Sydney Ordinaries were 1.3 percent higher to 6,297.4.

Tokyo saw gains as well after four days in a row of losses by the Nikkei 225. The Nikkei was up 0.5 percent to 17,932.27, while the Topix index added 0.6 percent to 1,751.12 and the Mothers market of small and mid-caps gained 2.4 percent to 917.35. Exporters were higher in Tokyo, especially car makers and tire manufacturers.

The New York markets were a bit higher ahead of the Federal Reserve‘s latest decision on inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average had added 0.15 percent to 13,447.24, while the Nasdaq Composite was 0.44 percent higher to 2,66.93 and the S&P 500 had gained 0.25 percent to 1,510.13. Carmakers were higher, while internet-related companies and retailers were mixed.

Story link: Asia-Pacific markets higher