The Asian stock markets are looking at a flat lead on Monday with a hint of upside thanks to better than expected consumer sentiment data from the United States.
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index advanced to 73.6 for the month, up from a reading of 72.3 in July. The result topped the figure predicted by economists, rising to their highest level in three months.
The major U.S. averages were slightly higher on Friday as the Dow gained 25.09 points, or 0.19 percent, to finish at 13,275.20. The NASDAQ rose 14.20 points, or 0.46 percent, to end at 3,076.59. The S&P 500, which posted its sixth consecutive week of gains, gained 2.65, or 0.19 percent to close at 1,418.16.
The major European markets also were up on Friday as the DAX of Germany climbed 0.64 percent and the CAC 40 of France gained 0.23 percent. The FTSE 100 of the U.K. rose 0.28 percent and the SMI of Switzerland finished up 0.17 percent.
The Asian bourses were mixed on Friday as Japan's Nikkei gained 0.8 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 0.77 percent, India collected 0.19 percent and China's Shanghai Composite added 0.13 percent.
Moving lower, Malaysia gave up 0.02 percent, while Singapore lost 0.03 percent, Thailand eased 0.04 percent, Taiwan dipped 0.29 percent and South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.58 percent.
The stock markets in Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are closed on Monday for Eid-ul-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Indonesia was also closed on Friday for an extended holiday.
by RTT Staff Writer
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