Global stock markets showed significant growth last week. In Europe, the FTSE MIB index rose by 4.35%, and the CAC 40 by 3.73%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index increased by 3.09%, while in South Korea, the Kospi index jumped by 8.96%, and the Kosdaq by 2.81%. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index grew by 4.44%, and in the UK, the FTSE 100 by 1.57%.
The Asia-Pacific markets demonstrated strong recovery last week, despite fears of a resumption of the US-Iran war and anxiety over oil price volatility. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index rose by 7.15%, and the Topix by 2.6%, driven by the surge in technology and other export companies that were most affected by geopolitical turbulence. In China, the CSI 300 index increased by 4.41%, and the Shanghai Composite by 2.74%.
Wall Street markets posted strong gains for the second consecutive week, the best performance since November. The growth was fueled by signs of easing conflict in the Middle East and falling oil prices, which boosted investor sentiment. Enthusiasm for artificial intelligence stocks supported some market segments, primarily large technology and semiconductor companies, due to optimism about computing demand, new model launches, and continued infrastructure spending.
The Nasdaq Composite led the gains, rising 4.68%, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones rose by 3.56% and 3.04%, respectively. Jed Ellerbrook, portfolio manager at Argent Capital Management, said: "Traders are very reluctant to make deals before a long weekend that will feature Iranian-American negotiations, expecting a lot of news in the coming days".
European stocks closed with a weekly gain as investors monitor the fragility of the ceasefire between the US and Iran and the possibility of successful peace talks in Ukraine. The European Stoxx 600 index rose by 3.05%, with most regional sectors and all major exchanges posting relative gains. In Germany, the Dax index increased by 2.74%.
