Germany’s DAX gained 0.4% to 18,796.33, the FTSE 100 added 0.4% to 8,258.47, Hang Seng slid 0.2% to 18,226.58 and S&P/ASX 200 skidded 0.7% to 8,152.90
Global stocks were mixed on Monday following a series of key interest rate decisions last week by the U.S. Fed, Japan, China, and Britain.
The CAC 40 in Paris slid 0.3% to 7,481.56 after the composite factory activity data for September declined below the 50 threshold that separates expansion from contraction, indicating the strong growth in the French economy seen in August has evaporated.
A similar update on Germany’s manufacturing sector, showed the HCOB Manufacturing PMI in September declining to 40.3, below expectations. Germany’s DAX gained 0.4% to 18,796.33. In London, the FTSE 100 added 0.4% to 8,258.47.
The futures for the S&P 500 and the DJIA were little changed.
Chinese stocks got a lift after the central bank eased its 14-day reverse repurchase rate to 1.85% from 1.95% on Monday after opting to keep key lending rates unchanged last week. Markets had been expecting a cut. Meanwhile, officials said People’s Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng would hold a news briefing to address support for the economy.
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong slid 0.2% to 18,226.58 while the Shanghai Composite index gained 0.4% to 2,748.92.
Markets in Japan were shut on Monday for a public holiday.
Japan’s monetary policy remained in the spotlight after the BoJ announced on Friday that it would keep its benchmark rate unchanged at 0.25%.
That weakened the Japanese yen, which dropped back from last week’s high of nearly 140 to the U.S. dollar. The dollar was trading at 143.56 yen on Monday.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 skidded 0.7% to 8,152.90. The RBA begins a two-day policy meeting on Monday.
South Korea’s Kospi jumped 0.3% to close at 2,602.01.
