World shares track Wall Street gains as gold edges lower
[January 27, 2026] By
ELAINE KURTENBACH
World shares were mostly higher Tuesday after U.S. stock indexes ticked
upward, buoyed by strong profit reports for some companies.
In Germany, the DAX slipped 0.2% to 24,892.75, while the CAC 40 in Paris
was unchanged at 8,129.45. Britain's FTSE 100 picked up 0.2% to
10,171.02.
The future for the S&P 500 gained 0.2% while that for the Dow Jones
Industrial Average was 0.1% lower.
In Asian trading, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 rose 0.9% to 53,333.54.
India's Sensex edged 0.1% lower after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said
the country had reached agreement on a free trade deal with the European
Union.
The accord, which touches a whopping 2 billion people, was concluded
after nearly two decades of negotiations. It's one of the biggest
bilateral engagements on commerce. The timing comes as Washington
targets both India and the EU with steep import tariffs.
The Kospi in South Korea surged 2.7% to 5,084.85, even after U.S.
President Donald Trump said he would raise tariffs on South Korean goods
because the country’s national assembly has yet to approve a trade
framework announced last year.
South Korea’s presidential office responded after a meeting of top
officials that it will convey its commitment to implementing last year’s
deal to the U.S.
The presidential office said that South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim
Jung-Kwan will travel to the U.S. for talks with Secretary of Commerce
Howard Lutnick, while Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo will travel separately
to meet with Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Kim was on a visit to
Canada.
Trump said on social media Monday that import taxes would be raised on
autos, lumber and pharmaceutical drugs from South Korea with the rate on
other goods going from 15% to 25%.
Gains for Korean tech-related shares like Samsung Electronics, which
rose 4.9% and chip maker SK Hynix, which soared 8.7%, helped offset
losses for automakers. Kia Corp. fell 1.1% and Hyundai Motor Co. lost
0.8%.
Chinese markets were mixed. Hong Kong's Hang Seng advanced 1.3% to
27,106.83 and the Shanghai Composite index added 0.2% to 4,139.90. But
the benchmark for the smaller market in Shenzhen dropped 0.1%.
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Currency traders watch monitors near a screen showing the Korea
Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and the foreign exchange rate
between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, left, at the foreign
exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South
Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
 Taiwan's Taiex was up 0.8%.
Financial markets could face more swings this week.
The Federal Reserve will announce its stance on interest rates on
Wednesday, when it is expected to hold steady. It’s been lowering
its main interest rate and has indicated more cuts may be on the way
in 2026 to help shore up the job market and give the economy a
boost.
Inflation remains stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target and lower
rates could worsen it.
Several of Wall Street’s most influential stocks are also set to
deliver earnings reports. That includes Meta Platforms, Microsoft
and Tesla on Wednesday and Apple on Thursday.
On Monday, the S&P 500 rose 0.5% and the Dow added 0.6%. The Nasdaq
composite gained 0.4%.
In other dealings early Tuesday, the price of gold was little
changed at $5,080 per ounce. On Monday, it rallied 2.1% and briefly
topped $5,100 per ounce for the first time. Silver lost 3%.
Prices for precious metals have been soaring as investors look for
safer places to park their money amid threats of tariffs, still-high
inflation, political strife and mountains of debt for governments
worldwide.
The dollar rose to 154.62 Japanese yen from 154.20 yen, while the
euro slipped to $1.1869 from $1.1881.
U.S. benchmark crude oil gave up 28 cents to $60.35 per barrel.
Brent crude, the international standard, shed 33 cents to $64.44 per
barrel.
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