13 September, 2008

It has been revealed that Equities markets in Europe saw increases on Friday as commodities-related shares advanced.

In London, the FTSE 100 gained 1.85 percent to 5,416.7 while the FTSE 250 was 1.15 percent higher to 8,976.7, with the 100 led by miners.

An increases in the prices of industrial metals sent Eurasian (LSE: ENRC) up 9.06 percent while Anglo American (LSE: AAL) added 8.4 percent, Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) gained 7.98 percent and BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT; NYSE: BHP; ASX: BHP) increased 7.4 percent.

The FTSE Eurofirst 300 gained 1,161.06 while the Dax added 0.91 percent to 5,234.89; the CAC-40 was 1.97 percent higher to 4,332.66 and Madrid’s IBEX increased 2.47 percent to 11,412.

However, most equities markets in the Asia-Pacific region also saw increases.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 0.93 percent to 12,214.76 while the Topix index was up 1.25 percent to 1,177.2 and the Mothers market was 3.05 percent higher to 437.16.

Tokyo’s markets will be closed on Monday in examination of Respect for the Aged Day.

Elsewhere in the region the Shanghai Composite was up 0.03 percent to 2,079.67 while the Taiex increased 0.94 percent to 6,310.68 and the Straits Times Index was 1.16 percent higher to 2,570.67.

The Sydney Ordinaries gained 1.76 percent to 4,957.1 and the S&P/ASX200 added 1.86 percent to 4,903.8 in Australia while South Korea’s Kospi was up 2.4 percent to 1,477.92.

Whereas, the Hang Seng, dropped 0.18 percent to 19,352.9 while India’s Sensex, was 2.26 percent lower to 14,000.81.

At around 1 p.m. in New York, equities markets there were declined with the Dow Jones Industrial Average fall 0.79 percent to 11,343.42 and the Nasdaq Composite decreased 0.55 percent to 2,245.71 and the S&P 500 dropped 0.5 percent to 1,242.83.

Oil prices were higher in New York but saw downfall in London, while metals prices were at top. While, among grains, corn and soybeans saw increases but wheat prices were down.