Global markets see gains

Equities markets in the Asia-Pacific region were higher again on Monday, with some indices reaching new records. In India, the Sensex rose above 20,000 for the first time, going as high as 20,024.67 during the session before closing at a record 19,977.67, a gain of 3.82 percent. Meanwhile in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng added 3.89 percent with a gain of 1,181.68 points to 31,586.90, a record close as it rose above the 31,000 level for the first time.

Elsewhere, the Straits Times index was up 1.28 percent to 3,819.78 in Singapore. In Australia, the Sydney Ordinaries and the S&P/ASX200 each added 1.37 percent, to 6,808.2 and 6,792.1 respectively. South Korea’s Kospi index gained 1.72 percent to 3,062.92, while in Taiwan the Taiex was 1.85 percent higher to 9,809.88. The Shanghai Composite jumped 2.83 percent to 5,748.

Tokyo’s markets were higher. The Nikkei 225 added 1.17 percent to 16,698.08, while the Topix index had its best day in a month with a gain of 2.07 percent to 1,606.49. The Mothers market of small and mid-caps was up 3.7 percent to 965.17. Banks and automobile manufacturers both saw gains on the session.

Markets in Europe were also higher on the session. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.68 percent higher to 1,587.6. The Paris CAC-40 added 0.71 percent to 5,836.19 and the Dax gained 0.76 percent to 8,009.67, while the IBEX was up 0.86 percent to 15,738.1. Carmakers were higher, but truck manufacturers saw declines on the day. Retailers also saw gains. The pharmaceuticals sector, aerospace groups and airlines all were lower.

In London, meanwhile, the FTSE 100 gained 0.67 percent to 6,076 and the FTSE 250 added 0.38 percent to 11,552.8. While miners were up on the session, homebuilders and property developers fell on the day.

New York markets were higher at midday on investor hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again when it meets later this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.31 percent higher at mid-session, at 13,849.45, while the Nasdaq Composite was up 0.23 percent to 2,810.73 and the S&P 500 had added 0.24 percent to 1,538.95. Higher crude oil prices sent both the oil sector and solar power-related shares higher. Computer manufacturers and some retailers also saw gains.

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