Mumbai | March 16, 2026
Global equity markets traded on a mixed note on Monday, with Asian indices showing divergent trends while US futures remained largely stable.
India’s offshore indicator, the GIFT Nifty, was trading nearly flat at 23,253, down marginally by 2.50 points or 0.01%, indicating a cautious start for domestic markets.
In the US, futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher by 8.20 points, or 0.02%, to 46,568. Meanwhile, the benchmark S&P 500 index rose 0.36% to 6,672.25, reflecting mild optimism in early global trading.
Asian markets presented a mixed picture. Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined sharply by 681.19 points, or 1.27%, to 53,138.42, making it the biggest loser among major Asian indices during the session.
In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 98.15 points, or 0.39%, to trade at 25,563.76, supported by gains in select technology and financial stocks. South Korea’s KOSPI slipped marginally by 0.17% to 5,478.09.
European markets, which closed in the previous session, also ended lower. Germany’s DAX dropped 0.60% to 23,447.29, while France’s CAC 40 fell 0.91% to 7,911.53. The UK’s FTSE 100 also declined 0.43% to close at 10,261.15.
Market participants remain cautious amid global macroeconomic uncertainties, fluctuating interest rate expectations, and mixed signals from major economies. Investors are closely monitoring developments in global inflation trends, central bank policy signals, and geopolitical factors that could influence market sentiment in the coming weeks.
