With just few trading sessions remaining in the current year, the top 20 leading stock index on a global front are set to end calendar year 2015 on a mixed note. As on December 28, 11 out of 20 global stock indices were trading in negative terrain. Eight benchmark indices are currently offering positive return and the US-based S&P 500 index is almost flat in CY2015, IIFL reported.
The year 2015 has been mainly subdued for the US economy as the world’s largest economy struggled to see significant growth in job data for most parts of the year.
In addition, increasing demand for energy (especially crude oil) and less than desired outcome of shale gas on the West Coast marred the economic sentiment to a major extent.
The global economic turmoil, too, took a toll on the US stock markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average index fell 1.52% in CY2015, while S&P 500 index is almost flat at 2,060.99 points (as on December 27) as against 2,058.90 points on December 31, 2014.
However, the NASDAQ Composite Index, representing the technology companies, impressively rose by 6.6% in CY2015. The latest rate hike from Federal Reserve may boost the financial activities in 2016. However, a fear of strengthening US dollar against some key currencies can be a reason for worry.
Asian Stock Markets
With the emerging economies rapidly attracting large investments from manufacturing sector across the world, the financial market is also on an investment attracting spree in recent year.
Asia Pacific has emerged as one of the key spot for securities market activities with significant inflows from the developed economies of the US and the Europe.
However, CY2015 is all set to end on a negative note for most of major stock index of Asia. Out of total 10 leading stock index, 7 benchmark index are in red territory with negative returns between 4.62% to 18.5% in CY2015 so far.
Ironically, Chinese stock index Shanghai Composite has given the highest return of 9.25% in CY2015 as compared to its Asian peers. There was a time when the Chinese market authorities had to discontinue trading for a long. The bearish sentiment in the Chinese stocks was even considered as the trigger point of bloodbath in Asian stock markets.
However, on a yearly basis, Shanghai Composite has a different story to share. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index offers positive return of 8.15% in CY2015 so far. The ever rising tension between South Korea and North Korea has not affected the positive momentum in the Korean stock markets as South Korea’s Kospi index offers 2.53% return in CY2015.
Thailand’s SET index has crashed the most with 18.55% fall in CY2015. Singapore’s Straight Times and Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite have plunged by 14.56% and 12.81% respectively. The Taiwanese Taiex index and Hong Kong’s Heng Seng went southward by 10.19% and 7.14% respectively.
In the tally of losers, the Indian benchmark Indices Sensex and Nifty 50 have fallen the least but they still are in red and will end the year in negative zone. After three consecutive years of positive returns, Sensex and Nifty 50 lost 5.33% and 4.32% respectively in CY2015 till December 28.
Other Stock Markets
The Greek woes did take a toll on European economies and the world saw a clash of titans like Germany, France and the UK when it came to a bailout for Greece earlier in the year.
However, strong growth at domestic front in Germany and France in sectors such as engineering, technology, chemicals, automobile and manufacturing helped the economies to defy Greek woes. Germany’s DAX index rose by 8.67% on CY2015, while the French stock market barometer CAC-40 index gained 8.19% in CY2015 so far. However, the UK’s FTSE 100 index slipped by 4.74%.
Russia’s MICEX index reported the highest gains of 23.59% in CY2015. On the other hand, Brazilian Bovespa index crashed by 12.32%. In addition, Australia’s S&P ASX 200 index plunged by 3.76%, while South Africa’s FTSE/JSE Africa index surged by 2.43% in CY2015.
