Asia Markets Mixed, Europe Up While Crude Oil Hovers Around $70 – Global Markets Today While Us Was Sleeping – SmartETFs Asia Pacific Dividend Builder ETF (ARCA:ADIV)

Global Markets Show Positive Signs as U.S. Stock Markets Close in Green

On Thursday, December 7th, the U.S. stock markets saw a positive turnaround, with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 ending their three-day losing streaks and the Nasdaq ending the session sharply higher. This comes as a relief to investors, who have been facing volatility and uncertainty in the markets recently.

In terms of economic data, the U.S. initial jobless claims increased slightly to 220,000 in the week ending December 2nd, which was just below market expectations of 222,000. The upcoming U.S. jobs report, due on Friday, is anticipated to show the addition of 180,000 jobs in November. This positive job growth could further boost investor confidence and contribute to the overall positive sentiment in the markets.

The S&P 500 saw most sectors ending positively, led by communication services and information technology stocks. However, utilities and energy sectors diverged from the trend, closing lower. This highlights the ongoing sector rotation that has been occurring in the markets, as investors continue to adjust their portfolios based on changing market dynamics.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.17% to 36,117.38, the S&P 500 gained 0.80% to 4,585.59, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.37%, ending the session at 14,339.99. These gains indicate a more positive market sentiment and reflect the overall resilience of U.S. stocks.

Turning our attention to Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed Friday’s session lower by 1.68% at 32,307.86. This was led by losses in the Shipbuilding, Mining, and Electrical/Machinery sectors. Japan’s Q3 GDP was also revised to a steeper annualized decline of -2.9%, compared to the preliminary -2.1%. Additionally, real wages fell by 2.3% in October, and household spending decreased by 2.5%, further complicating the central bank’s monetary policy efforts.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.30%, ending at 7,194.90, led by gains in the Energy, Resources, and Metals & Mining sectors. China’s Shanghai Composite was up 0.11% to 2,969.56, and the Shenzhen CSI 300 gained 0.24%, closing at 3,399.46. However, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was down 0.11%, concluding the day at 16,324.50.

Moving on to the Eurozone, the European STOXX 600 index was up 0.45%, with Germany’s DAX gaining 0.23% and France’s CAC rising 0.81%. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 also traded higher by 0.31%. These gains in European markets indicate a more positive sentiment across global markets.

In commodities, Crude Oil WTI was trading higher by 1.93% at $70.68/bbl, and Brent was up by 1.93% at $75.49/bbl. Natural Gas gained 0.74% to $2.6.03. Gold was trading higher by 0.01% at $2046.50, Silver gained 0.52% to $24.183, and Copper rose 0.88% to $3.8308. These price movements indicate stability and potential growth in the commodities market.

Looking at U.S. futures at 06:15 AM ET, Dow futures were up 0.07%, S&P 500 futures gained 0.05%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures declined 0.07%. These futures indicate a mix of sentiment, with the Dow and S&P 500 showing positive signs and the Nasdaq experiencing a minor decline.

In the foreign exchange market, the U.S. Dollar Index was up 0.18% to 103.73. USD/JPY gained 0.36% to 144.62, and AUD/USD fell 0.12% to 1.5129. These currency movements reflect the overall strength of the U.S. dollar against the Japanese yen and Australian dollar.

Overall, global markets are showing positive signs as the U.S. stock markets close in the green. The positive economic data, sector rotations, and stability in commodities and foreign exchange markets contribute to a more optimistic outlook for investors. However, it is important to remain cautious and monitor market developments closely, as volatility and uncertainty can still arise.