NEW YORK, New York – Global equity markets closed higher on Thursday, with Wall Street rallying as technology and growth stocks led gains, while Canada’s main index also moved firmly into positive territory.
In the United States, the Standard and Poor’s 500 advanced 39.04 points, or 0.58 percent, to finish at 6,738.44, as investors showed renewed appetite for risk following upbeat corporate earnings reports and resilient economic data.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 144.20 points, or 0.31 percent, to close at 46,734.61, supported by gains in financial and industrial sectors. The blue-chip index traded between 46,490.06 and 46,802.15 during the session.
The NASDAQ Composite outperformed the major benchmarks, jumping 201.40 points, or 0.89 percent, to end at 22,941.80, with strong performances from technology giants bolstering the broader market.
Traders said sentiment remained broadly optimistic, with investors weighing a healthy corporate outlook against lingering uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy path.
Market analysts noted that upcoming inflation data and next week’s earnings releases could provide further direction for equities, which have remained resilient despite fluctuating bond yields and geopolitical tensions.
Global Foreign Exchange Market Mixed as U.S. Dollar Holds Firm
The world’s major currencies showed limited movement on Thursday, with the US dollar holding steady against most peers in subdued trading ahead of key economic data releases.
The euro slipped slightly against the US dollar, easing by 0.03 percent to trade at 1.1614, as investors weighed prospects for interest rate stability in the eurozone following recent mixed signals from the European Central Bank.
Against the Japanese yen, the greenback edged down 0.02 percent to 152.52, maintaining its position near multi-decade highs as markets continued to monitor potential intervention risks from Tokyo.
The US dollar also weakened modestly against the Canadian dollar, declining 0.02 percent to 1.3989, with traders noting the Canadian currency’s resilience amid steady oil prices.
The British pound softened, slipping 0.05 percent to 1.3317 against the US dollar, as market sentiment remained cautious ahead of forthcoming UK economic indicators.
The US dollar was unchanged against the Swiss franc, holding at 0.7949, while the Australian dollar dipped 0.02 percent to 0.6509 and the New Zealand dollar edged 0.01 percent lower to 0.5748, reflecting continued demand for the US currency amid global market uncertainty.
Overall, the session was marked by narrow trading ranges, with investors awaiting fresh cues from upcoming US economic data that could shape expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next policy move.
Global Stocks Mixed as Asian Markets Falter but European Indices End Higher
Global stock markets ended Thursday’s session with a mixed tone as European and several Asia-Pacific indices advanced, while Japan and South Korea posted notable losses. Investors weighed corporate earnings and economic data amid persistent concerns over slowing growth in parts of Asia.
In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite Index rose 203.30 points, or 0.68 percent, to settle at 30,186.28, as energy and materials shares advanced alongside firming commodity prices.
In London, the FTSE 100 rose by 63.57 points, or zero point sixty-seven percent, to close at 9,578.57, supported by gains in energy and mining shares. The index moved between 9,505.72 and 9,594.82 during the day.
Germany’s DAX added 56.66 points, or zero point twenty-three percent, finishing at 24,207.79, while France’s CAC 40 also climbed 18.91 points, or zero point twenty-three percent, to end at 8,225.78. Across the euro area, the Euro Stoxx 50 index advanced 29.12 points, or zero point fifty-two percent, to settle at 5,668.33, and the Euronext 100 gained nine point seventy points, or zero point fifty-seven percent, to 1,714.21.
However, Belgium’s BEL 20 edged slightly lower, dipping 2.62 points, or zero point zero five percent, to 5,002.98, making it one of the few European indices to close in negative territory.
In Asia, trading results were mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 186.21 points, or zero point seventy-two percent, to 25,967.98, buoyed by property and technology shares. Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 22.35 points, or zero point fifty-one percent, to 4,416.27, while Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index surged 121.80 points, or one point forty-nine percent, to 8,274.35, leading regional gains.
Australia’s markets were modestly higher, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 2.80 points, or zero point zero three percent, to 9,032.80, and the All Ordinaries index rising eight points, or zero point zero nine percent, to 9,329.10.
In India, the S&P BSE Sensex advanced 130.05 points, or zero point fifteen percent, closing at 84,556.40, while Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Composite Index added 5.31 points, or zero point thirty-three percent, to 1,608.00. New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 gained 70.66 points, or zero point fifty-three percent, to finish at 13,377.10.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slid sharply by 666.18 points, or one point thirty-five percent, to 48,641.61, marking one of the region’s weakest performances. South Korea’s KOSPI Composite Index also declined 38.12 points, or zero point ninety-eight percent, to 3,845.56, pressured by technology and chip sector losses.
Taiwan’s Weighted Index fell 116.65 points, or zero point forty-two percent, to 27,532.26, while Israel’s TA-125 rose 22.42 points, or zero point sixty-nine percent, to 3,277.02.
In the Middle East and Africa, Egypt’s EGX 30 advanced 110.40 points, or zero point twenty-nine percent, to 37,687.00, and South Africa’s Top 40 Index (JN0U.JO) surged 149.83 points, or two point thirty-nine percent, to close at 6,419.77, one of the best performances of the day.
On the Chinese mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index edged up 8.65 points, or zero point twenty-two percent, to 3,922.41, continuing a steady recovery trend.
Overall, global markets showed resilience in Europe and select emerging markets, offsetting weakness across parts of East Asia. Analysts noted that investors are increasingly cautious ahead of upcoming inflation and growth data releases that could guide central bank policy in the final quarter of the year.
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