World sharemarkets rose outside North America, where markets are closed for Thanksgiving, as the impact of tension in Korea and euro-zone debt issues faded.In the US, investors are putting hopes on shoppers turning out for "Black Friday" –
World sharemarkets rose outside North America, where markets are closed for Thanksgiving, as the impact of tension in Korea and euro-zone debt issues faded.
In the US, investors are putting hopes on shoppers turning out for "Black Friday" – the day when retailers offer large bargains tand their books move out of the red after Thanksgiving and ahead of the holiday season.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index rose 0.5% at 267.72. London's FTSE 100 Index was 0.4% higher at 5677.85 and Frankfurt's DAX rose 0.2% to 6839.26. But in Paris the CAC-40 Index was 0.1% lower at 3742.8.
Asian shares ended mostly higher with export-related shares rising in Tokyo, helped by a brighter US spending outlook for the holiday shopping season and the Japanese yen's softening against the dollar.
The Nikkei Stock Average advanced 0.5% to 10,079.76,
In Korea, where the defence minister has resigned over the response to an attack by North Korean artillery, the Kospi index was up 0.1 to 1927.68.
China's Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.3% to 2898.26, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 0.1% at 23,054.68 and Indonesia's JSX Composite gained 1.2% to close at 3702.01. Australia’s S&P/ASX index was 0.2% up at 4593.33 and Taiwan’s Taiex was up 0.6% to 8349.99,
Thailand's SET index fell 1% to 996.42 and India’s Sensex was 0.7% lower at 19,318.16.
Commodities: Oil, gold up
Crude-oil futures traded higher in low volumes on reduced activity. The front-month January contract in New York traded 47USc higher at $US84.33 a barrel.
The front-month January Brent contract on London's ICE was up 46USc at $US86.30 a barrel.
The spot price of gold held steady in thin trade with New York closed. At $US1,371.80 an ounce, it was down 80USc, or 0.1%, on the day.
Currencies: Euro up, yen down
The euro gained against the dollar in thin trading as a key official with the European Central Bank repeated assurances that Europe will stand together to protect the common currency.
US
The euro was at $1.3376 from $US1.3330 late on Wednesday. It touched a high of $US1.3378 in late-morning trading.
The dollar was at ¥83.61 from ¥83.59, while the euro was at ¥111.85 from ¥111.43. The pound was unchanged at $US1.5777. The dollar was at 0.9920 Swiss franc from 0.9962.
