Taiex adds 1.67 percent after holiday

Markets were mixed in the Asia-Pacific region on Wednesday. Among gainers, India’s Sensex was up 0.13 percent to 16,921.39 at the close, but it rose to a new record high of 17,073.87 during the session. In Taiwan, the Taiex added 1.67 percent to 9,257.47 on its first day back after a two-day holiday break. Australia’s markets were mixed. The Sydney Ordinaries gained 0.01 percent to 6,491.4, but the S&P/ASX200 was 0.02 percent lower to 6,481.4. In Singapore, the Straits Times index closed lower at 3,650.09. Meanwhile, the Shanghai Composite fell 1.61 percent to 5,338.52. South Korea’s markets were closed for the third day in a row, while Hong Kong’s markets also closed for a holiday.

Tokyo’s markets saw gains based on a greatly expanded trade surplus in August and on anticipation of another interest rate cut in the United States. The Nikkei 225 was 0.21 percent higher to 16,435.74 and the Topix index added 0.59 percent to 1,576.02, while the Mothers market jumped 8.13 percent to 682.78. Banks, bus and truck makers, and nuclear reactor manufacturers saw gains. Retailers were mixed, while the oil sector declined.

In Europe, equities markets were higher on the session. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.65 percent higher to 1,539.28. Frankfurt’s Dax was up 0.45 percent to 7,804.15, while the CAC-40 added 0.87 percent to 5,690.77 and the IBEX jumped 1.59 percent to 14,540.5 in Madrid. Utilities were higher, as were stock exchange operators and IT groups. Carmakers and banks were mixed. Chemicals groups and hotels operators were lower.

London’s markets were higher as well. The FTSE 100 added 0.56 percent to 6,433 while the FTSE 250 gained 0.33 percent to 10,889.3. Banks and the internet sector advanced, while miners were mixed. Retailers and the oil sector saw losses.

Wall Street was higher in early afternoon trade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.6 percent to 13,861, while the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.81 percent to 2,705.3 and the S&P 500 gained 0.57 percent to 1,525.86. The Commerce Department reported that durable goods orders were 4.9 percent lower in August, a bigger decline than had been expected. Carmakers saw gains, as did investment banks and software makers.

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