A roundup of trading on major world markets:
NEW YORK – US stock markets closed slightly lower overnight after the country’s manufacturing statistics and home price data came in worse than expected.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 20.81 points, or 0.2 per cent, at 12,632.91, while the broader S&P 500 index lost 60 points, or 0.05 per cent, at 1,312.41.
The Nasdaq composite was up 1.90 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 2,813.84.
LONDON – European stocks rose on Tuesday on hopes that governments were making progress in their fight to contain the debt crisis, but they lost their shine as Wall Street dropped due to soft US economic data.
Sentiment in the first half of the day in Europe was buoyant after European leaders agreed the broad outlines of a deal to tie the countries that use the euro closer together and on hopes that Greece is close to a debt-reduction deal with private creditors.
In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares closed 0.2 per cent higher at 5,681.61 while Germany’s DAX rose 0.2 per cent to 6,458.91. The CAC-40 in France ended 1.0 per cent higher at 3,298.55.
In the US, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 0.5 per cent at 12,591.47 while the broader Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 0.3 per cent to 1,308.99.
HONG KONG – Asian markets mostly rose after European leaders agreed on a treaty aimed at ending huge deficits, but traders remained cautious as Greece continued talks to slash its debt mountain.
Upbeat Japanese data on Tuesday also gave support, but the euro remained weak as the Greek issue rumbled on and traders looked for safe havens. The strong yen raised the possibility the government would step into forex markets again.
Tokyo rose 0.11 per cent, or 9.46 points, to 8,802.51 and Seoul climbed 0.79 per cent, or 15.24 points, to 1,955.79, while Hong Kong added 0.35 per cent and Shanghai was flat.
Sydney ended 0.23 per cent, or 10.0 points, lower at 4,262.7.
In Tokyo, data showed Japan’s annual industrial output fell 3.5 per cent in 2011 – hit by the March 11 quake-tsunami and floods in Thailand – but rose by a more-than-expected four per cent in December.
It also showed household spending saw its first increase since the March disasters.
The euro bought $1.3191 and 100.53 yen in afternoon Asian trade, compared with $1.3134 and 100.34 yen in New York late Monday. The dollar slipped to 76.21 yen from 76.34.
WELLINGTON – The NZX 50 fell 11.01 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 3296.20. Within the index, 18 stocks fell, 21 rose and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was $NZ78.7 million ($A61.33 million).
