World markets closed the session with uneven performances, reflecting a patchwork of local drivers against a backdrop of rising inflation in Europe, political uncertainty in the U.S., and diverging economic signals in Asia. European equities led gains despite weak factory data, while Asia-Pacific trading was muted by holidays and mixed economic readings. African and Middle Eastern bourses posted selective advances.
ASIA/PACIFIC
Trading was subdued as mainland Chinese and Hong Kong exchanges remained closed for the National Day holiday. Japan’s markets ended sharply lower after a survey showed manufacturing activity contracted at the fastest pace in six months, though the Bank of Japan’s Tankan survey revealed sentiment among large manufacturers improved for a second straight quarter. India’s central bank kept rates unchanged at 5.5%, lifting equities: the Nifty 50 gained 0.74% and the Sensex advanced 0.83%. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.91%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped slightly to 8,845.7, weighed down by reports of a temporary halt in Chinese iron ore cargo purchases from an Australian mining giant.
EUROPE
European stocks extended gains, shrugging off signs of rising prices and slowing output. Eurozone inflation edged up from 2.0% to 2.2% in September, while manufacturing activity contracted. The STOXX 600 advanced 1.15%, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.90%, London’s FTSE 100 climbed 1.05%, and Germany’s DAX jumped 1.08%.
AMERICAS
U.S. stocks extended gains for a fourth session, closing at record highs as investors downplayed shutdown risks. Vice President JD Vance said he expects it to be brief, while weak payrolls data drove Treasury yields lower and bolstered bets on Fed rate cuts. The Nasdaq rose 0.4%, the S&P 500 0.3%, and the Dow 0.1%
AFRICA
Major African markets were firmer. Johannesburg’s FTSE/JSE All Share Index rose 0.66%, Nigeria’s NGX All Share Index gained 0.23%, and Egypt’s blue-chip index added 0.3%, helped by a 1% rise in Commercial International Bank Egypt. Separately, Egypt reported GDP growth of 5% in Q4 FY2024/25, more than doubling from 2.4% in the same quarter last year.
MIDDLE EAST
Gulf markets closed mixed but leaned higher. Saudi Arabia rose 0.2%, Dubai gained 0.5%, while Bahrain and Oman each added 0.1%. Kuwait slipped 0.2% and Qatar dropped 0.9%, pressured by losses in Qatar National Bank. In contrast, Israel’s TA-35 surged 2.77%, outperforming regional peers.