World shares are mixed after Wall St ends an erratic day with gains
[October 16, 2025] By
TERESA CEROJANO
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — World shares were mixed Thursday with
European indexes down or flat while most Asian shares rose, tracking
gains on Wall Street following a topsy-turvy trading day.
U.S. futures and oil prices gained.
In early European trading, Germany's Dax shed nearly 0.3% to 24,114.48.
France's CAC 40 was almost flat at 8,079.54, while Britain's FTSE 100
fell almost 0.2% to 9,409.35.
Earlier in Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 1.3% higher to 48,277.74 as
investor sentiment was lifted by a strong start to the earnings season
and expectations of U.S. rate cuts.
Japan’s core machinery orders, excluding ships and electric power, fell
0.9% month-on-month in August, missing market expectations for a 0.4%
gain. But they marked improved from a 4.6% drop in July, according to
data released Thursday.
South Korea's Kospi surged to a record high, adding 2.5% to 3,748.37 on
buying of tech and auto stocks that was spurred by hopes for a trade
deal with U.S. Samsung Electronics and automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia
Corp. were among the big gainers.
In Chinese markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index shed 0.1% to 25,888.51,
while the Shanghai Composite index added 0.1% to 3,916.23.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed nearly 0.9% higher at 9,068.40, breaching
the 9,000 level for the first time amid gains in gold stocks. Miners in
resource-rich Australia are benefitting from a runup in gold prices.
Early Thursday, the precious metal was up 0.9% at 4,237.60 per ounce.
Also, the jobless rate rose to 4.5% in September, the highest in four
years, stepping up expectations that the country's Reserve Bank may
resume rate cuts as early as next month.
India's BSE Sensex added 0.8%, while Taiwan's Taiex advanced 1.4%.
On Wednesday, most U.S. stocks rose. The S&P 500 added 0.4% to 6,671.06,
but only after jumping toward one of its biggest gains since the summer,
erasing it all and then climbing back.
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A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's
Nikkei index at a securities firm Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, in
Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
 The Nasdaq composite climbed 0.7%,
closing at 22,670.08 after earlier pinballing between a drop of 0.4%
and a rally of 1.4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged the
market, shedding less than 0.1% to 46,253.31.
Technology stocks helped lead the way Wednesday
following a better-than-expected profit report from
Netherlands-based ASML, a major equipment supplier to the
semiconductor industry. It expects its revenue for 2025 to be 15%
above last year’s, while next year’s should be at least as high as
this year’s. Several big banks also drove the market higher.
Companies are under pressure to deliver strong profits after their
stock prices broadly surged 35% from a low in April. To justify
those gains, which critics say made their stock prices too
expensive, companies will need to show they’re making much more in
profit and will continue to do so.
Profit reports are under more scrutiny than usual as investors seek
insights into the health of the American economy. The U.S.
government’s latest shutdown is delaying important updates on the
economy, such as a report on inflation that was due Wednesday.
In other dealings early Thursday, U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 50
cents to $58.77 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard,
rose 47 cents to $62.38 per barrel.
The dollar rose to 151.15 Japanese yen from 151.06 yen. The euro
climbed to $1.1658 from $1.1648.
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