Asian markets mixed at close, Europe exchanges in positive

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - Stock markets in Asia were mixed on Monday at the close, while European stock exchanges were in positive territory amid a new round of talks between Russia and Ukraine.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, was down 31 points, or 0.92%, to 3,362 points at 0950GMT.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, was the worst performer in Asia, plummeting 1,022 points, or almost 5%, to 19,531.

China’s Shanghai Stock Exchange declined 86 points, or 2.6%, to finish at 3,223.

The Singapore index decreased 17 points, or 0.54%, to end the day at 3,232.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 stock exchange, on the other hand, rose 145 points, or 0.58%, to close at 25,307 points.

India's Sensex benchmark was the best performer of the day, soaring almost 890 points, or 1.6%, to 56,450.

In Europe, the STOXX Europe 600, which includes around 90% of the market capitalization of the European market in 17 countries, was up 5.32 points, or 1.2%, to 435.56 at the time.

London's FTSE 100 increased 30 points, or 0.43%, to 7,186. Germany's DAX 30 was the best performer in Europe at the time, jumping 375 points, or 2.75%, to 14,002.

While France's CAC 40 was up 110 points, or 1.76%, to 6,370, Italy's FTSE MIB increased almost 500 points, or 2.2%, to 23,540.

Spain's IBEX 35 increased 145 points, or 1.8%, to 8,290.

Fresh talks between Russia and Ukraine have provided hope for investors for a possible end to the war in Ukraine.

In the US, futures indicated that the American indices will open with gains on Monday.

The Dow Jones futures were up 321 points, or almost 1%, to 33,140 at the time.

The S&P futures rose 39 points, or 0.93%, to 4,232, while the Nasdaq futures added 92 points, or 0.7%, to 13,381.