A roundup of trading on major world markets:
NEW YORK – US stocks have finished modestly lower as investor caution returns to the market ahead of Wednesday’s unofficial kickoff of third-quarter company earnings reports.
At Monday’s closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 16,993.03, down 16.66 points (0.10 per cent).
The broad-based S&P 500 dipped 2.94 (0.15 per cent) to 1,964.96, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index suffered deeper losses, falling 20.82 (0.47 per cent) to 4,454.80.
Investors are nervous about the upcoming earnings reports in part because of fears the US dollar’s big rise has hit US profits.
Alcoa reports results after the market closes Wednesday, unofficially kicking off the season.
LONDON – European equities have extended recent gains on upbeat US payrolls data and as investors approve moves by corporate giants Hewlett Packard and Tesco to change course.
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index gained 0.55 per cent to 6,563.65 points.
The DAX 30 in Frankfurt climbed 0.15 per cent to 9,209.51 points, while in Paris the CAC 40 added 0.11 per cent to 4,286.52 points.
The euro rose slightly to $US1.2581 from $US1.2514 late in New York on Friday, when it had tumbled to an August 2012 low of $1.2501 after US payrolls data.
The European single currency gained to 78.55 British pence from 78.35 pence, while the pound firmed to $US1.6016 from $US1.5970.
HONG KONG – Asian markets were mixed after a strong US jobs report showed unemployment at a six-year low.
Hong Kong shares tacked on a second straight day of gains as civil servants returned to work while pro-democracy protests that have shut down parts of the city thinned out.
Tokyo rallied 1.16 per cent, or 182.30 points, to 15,890.95, while in the afternoon Hong Kong gained 250.48 points, or 1.09 per cent, to 23,315.04.
However, Sydney lost 0.48 per cent, or 25.3 points, to end at 5,292.9 while Seoul eased 0.39 per cent, or 7.77 points, to 1,968.39.
Shanghai and Singapore were closed for public holidays.
WELLINGTON – The NZX 50 index rose 4.32 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 5241.31.
