Global equity markets saw modest gains Monday, while gold and oil prices declined, as investors navigated holiday-thinned trading in Asia ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations. Japanese shares slipped following weaker-than-expected economic data.
In Europe, indices opened higher: Germany’s DAX rose 0.2% to 24,958.01, the UK’s FTSE 100 gained 0.3% to 10,479.47, and France’s CAC 40 added 0.3% to 8,333.81.
Japan Shows Slower Growth
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 dropped 0.2% to 56,806.41 after Japan reported annualized economic growth of just 0.2% for the October–December quarter. The modest expansion suggests that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may accelerate stimulus measures, including increased government spending and tax reductions, to bolster the economy, according to Marcel Thieliant of Capital Economics.
Trading activity across Asia was limited, with stock exchanges in China, South Korea, and Taiwan closed for the Lunar New Year. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index ended its half-day session up 0.5% at 26,705.94. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2% to 8,937.10, while India’s Sensex climbed 0.4%.
U.S. Markets Mixed Ahead of Presidents Day
U.S. futures indicated modest gains, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures each up 0.4%, although U.S. markets remain closed Monday for Presidents Day. Last week, U.S. equities stabilized after declines prompted by concerns over artificial intelligence-driven disruptions in the software sector.
The S&P 500 inched up less than 0.1% to 6,836.17, the Dow added 0.1% to 49,500.93, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.2% to 22,546.67. Nvidia, the largest component of the S&P 500, fell 2.2%, while AppLovin surged 6.4% following a sharp drop the previous day.
Commodities and Currency Update
Gold prices slipped 0.3% to $5,030.30 per ounce, and silver fell 1.2% to $77.05 per ounce. Oil prices also declined, with U.S. crude down 34 cents to $62.55 per barrel and Brent crude down 34 cents at $67.41 per barrel.
Currency markets saw the U.S. dollar rise against the yen to 153.33, while the euro weakened slightly to $1.1867.
As trading volumes remain thin due to regional holidays, analysts expect market movements this week to hinge on economic data and corporate earnings reports across the U.S. and Asia.
