Delhi, 17 October (H.S.): Global stock markets presented a mixed and cautious picture on Friday, as investors weighed concerns over credit stress in U.S. regional banks against a backdrop of fluctuating commodity prices and varied regional economic signals.

Wall Street Closes Lower

U.S. markets ended the previous session in negative territory, setting a subdued tone for global trade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.65% to close at 45,952.24. The S&P 500 also declined, shedding 0.63% to finish at 6,629.07, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite slipped by 0.47% to 22,562.54 . The downturn was influenced by signs of credit stress among U.S. regional banks, which put investors on edge.

Asian Markets Follow Suit

Following the negative lead from Wall Street, Asian shares broadly tracked lower. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was a significant loser, dropping 1.42% to 47,592.70 . In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was down 0.09% . The cautious sentiment in the region was palpable as traders reacted to the U.S. banking fears.

European Markets Show Resilience

In contrast to the U.S. and Asia, major European indices showed some strength in early trading. Germany’s DAX was up 0.38%, and France’s CAC 40 gained 1.38% . The UK’s FTSE 100 also saw a modest rise of 0.12%.Commodities and CurrenciesCommodity markets saw significant movement, with gold hitting a new record high.

The precious metal’s price rose by 0.84% as investors sought safe-haven assets amid market uncertainty. Conversely, crude oil prices declined, with Brent crude falling 1.32% to $56.70 a barrel. In the currency market, the U.S. Dollar Index weakened slightly.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar