TOKYO, Oct 22: Global stock markets slipped on Wednesday, led by declines in technology stocks after a subdued trading session on Wall Street.
France’s CAC 40 fell 0.5%, Germany’s DAX lost 0.3%, while the UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.6%. US futures showed little movement after the S&P 500 closed nearly flat, the Dow gained 0.5%, and the Nasdaq dropped 0.2% the previous day.
In Asia, markets were mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slid 0.9%, and China’s Shanghai Composite edged down slightly.
Investor sentiment weakened after US President Donald Trump cast uncertainty over a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, despite earlier suggesting it could happen in South Korea.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 hovered near flat levels and closed slightly lower, weighed down by tech stocks like SoftBank, which fell nearly 5%.
This came a day after the country appointed Sanae Takaichi as its first female prime minister. Japan reported a 4.2% increase in exports for September, but auto shipments to the US fell sharply due to tariff hikes.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.7%, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.6% amid upbeat sentiment in local markets. Investors globally remain cautious ahead of upcoming corporate earnings and the delayed release of key U.S. economic data due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The US Commerce Department is expected to release consumer price data on Friday, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate decision as it balances inflation concerns with a cooling job market.
In commodities, US crude oil rose 96 cents to $58.20 per barrel, and Brent crude climbed 99 cents to $62.31.
In currency markets, the US dollar slipped slightly against the Japanese yen and the euro, reflecting cautious investor sentiment amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. (AP)
