Global stocks showed a mixed performance on Monday following a positive turn on Wall Street after the holiday season. In Europe, Germany's DAX rose by 0.4% to 19,984.85, while the CAC 40 in Paris increased by 0.6% to 7,324.36. However, Britain's FTSE 100 fell by 0.2% to 8,212.70. Futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average also showed slight gains.
Japan's finance minister expressed optimism for economic growth in 2025, emphasizing wage increases and investment. Meanwhile, concerns linger in Asia over potential trade policy changes by President-elect Donald Trump, particularly his stance on raising tariffs.
In the U.S., Nippon Steel faced setbacks after its bid to acquire U.S. Steel Corp was rejected by President Joe Biden due to national security concerns. This decision impacted stock prices for both companies. Japanese Prime Minister addressed the issue, urging the U.S. government to clarify the security concerns.
Market movements in Asia varied, with Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index dropping by 1.5% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng declining by 0.4%. China's Shanghai Composite index also slipped slightly. Despite this, a private sector survey indicated growth in China's services economy in December.
Elsewhere in Asia, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 and Taiwan's Taiex saw gains, while South Korea's Kospi surged, driven by increases in tech companies like SK Hynix Inc. and Samsung Electronics. South Korea faced political turmoil as efforts to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol continued.
In the U.S., stock indexes rallied, with the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average posting gains. The Nasdaq composite also saw a significant increase. The U.S. economy's resilience and record-high stock performances were noted, despite uncertainties surrounding interest rates and inflation.
Oil prices experienced a slight decline, with U.S. benchmark crude and Brent crude both dropping. Currency markets saw the U.S. dollar strengthening against the Japanese yen and the euro.
