NEW YORK: World stock markets were mostly higher Friday after more upbeat economic data in Europe, though trading was still subdued due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Investors were monitoring Chinese shares, which stabilized after an early tumble.
KEEPING SCORE: In Europe, France’s CAC 40 was up 0.6 percent to 5,413 while Germany’s DAX gained 0.9 percent to 13,126. Britain’s FTSE 100 was flat at 7,419. Wall Street was poised to open higher after the holiday, though trading volumes were expected to contained as the market is due to close early. Dow and S&P 500 futures were both up 0.3 percent.
EUROPE GAINS: Key surveys this week showed business activity rising further in the eurozone and jobs growth at the highest since the dotcom era. On Friday, another report showed German business confidence hit a record high in November. The Ifo Institute’s business climate indicator hit 117.5 points, from 116.8 the previous month, mainly thanks to greater optimism about the future.
CHINA TRADING: Investors watching for another day of wobbles on the mainland’s markets were relieved when Shanghai shares staged a late rally after bouncing off a fresh two-month low. On Thursday they tumbled in the final hour of trading, sending the Shanghai Composite down 2.3 percent. Traders blamed factors including tightening liquidity following reports the government is clamping down on online lenders and jitters over bond markets.
ASIAN SCORECARD: Regional markets had a choppy day of trading, with some benchmarks reversing early losses to end higher. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.1 percent to 22,550.85 while the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.1 percent to 3,353.82. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rebounded 0.5 percent to 29,866.32 and South Korea’s Kospi added 0.3 percent to 2,544.33. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1 percent lower to 5,982.60. Taiwan’s benchmark was flat and Southeast Asian indexes were mostly lower.
