The US
Wall Street closed mainly higher, fuelled by tech stocks as investors are waiting for a robust earnings season while interest rates remain low. USA30 fell 0.44%, while USA500 went up 0.23% closing at a new record high of 4,290.61. TECH100 added 0.98% to 14,500.51.
Crude oil traded 1.51% lower at $72.93 per barrel.
Gold was up 0.12% to $1,780 a troy ounce.
The Dollar Index rose 0.05% to 91.9.
Asia and Australia
Stocks mainly were down as the more virulent Delta variant of the coronavirus continues to spread.
Japan225 edged down 0.15%.
Down under, Australia200 slipped 0.17% as Sydney is currently under lockdown to deal with the latest outbreak involving the Delta COVID-19 variant.
Hong Kong markets were closed in the morning.
USD/JPY traded at 110.6200 after it lost 0.14%.
Europe
Markets dropped on concerns that the new COVID-19 variant could undermine the economic recovery. Germany30 fell 0.34%, while France40 slid 0.89%. UK100 dipped 0.88%.
Brent oil settled down 1.97% at $74.68 a barrel.
EUR/USD was unchanged at 1.1933.
Sources: investing.com, reuters.com
