East Asia

European Markets Mixed After Asia Slump

Britain’s benchmark FTSE index was down 0.3% at midday, the CAC 40 index in France was 0.1% higher, while Germany’s DAX index was up 0.2%.

European markets were mixed Thursday amid continued volatility in the technology sector and caution over corporate earnings reports.

Britain’s benchmark FTSE index was down 0.3% at midday. The CAC 40 index in France was 0.1% higher, while Germany’s DAX index was up 0.2%.

Markets in Asia and Australia closed mostly lower earlier in the trading day. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei index lost just over 1%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped 0.6%, while Shanghai’s Composite index was 0.4% lower. The KOSPI index in South Korea plunged 1.3%, and Taiwan’s TSEC lost 0.4%

Mumbai’s Sensex finished the trading day 0.7% higher.

Australia’s S&P/ASX index fell 0.8%.

In commodities trading, gold was selling at $1,814.70, down 1.1%. U.S. crude oil was selling at $56.11 per barrel, up 0.7%, while Brent crude oil was 0.6% higher, selling at $58.82 per barrel.

All three major U.S. indices were trending higher in futures trading ahead of Wall Street’s opening bell.