Global shares mostly fell on Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday closure of U.S. markets. In early trading, France's CAC 40 remained nearly unchanged, while Germany's DAX and Britain's FTSE 100 both saw slight declines. Investors were eagerly awaiting preliminary inflation data for November in the eurozone, which could impact future interest rate decisions by the European Central Bank.
Looking ahead, futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were slightly higher, with U.S. markets set to reopen for a half day on Friday. In Asian trading, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index fell after a report showed a rise in inflation in Tokyo for November, potentially influencing national trends. The Bank of Japan may respond with further increases in its benchmark lending rate, strengthening the Japanese yen.
South Korea's Kospi and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 experienced losses, while Chinese markets saw gains. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index and the Shanghai Composite index both advanced, driven by positive market sentiment following a meeting in Beijing focused on boosting consumption.
Investors are also anticipating a major economic planning meeting scheduled for December. The recent holiday provided a break from news surrounding President-elect Donald Trump's post-inauguration plans, which had caused market volatility earlier in the week.
In Wednesday's trading, the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq composite all saw declines. U.S. benchmark crude oil and Brent crude prices fluctuated slightly, while the euro strengthened against the dollar.
