Most European markets were higher Thursday after the European Central Bank voted to keep interest rates at 4 percent. Madrid’s IBEX, however, dropped 0.29 percent to 14,198.4. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 was 0.17 percent higher to 1,525.2. In Frankfurt, the Dax added 0.44 percent to 7,621.72, while the CAC-40 was up 0.45 percent to 5,576.62 in Paris. The oil and semiconductors sectors were higher. Utilities and the steel sector was mixed, while some manufacturers saw declines.

London’s markets saw gains as the FTSE 100 added 0.68 percent to 6,313.3 and the FTSE 250 gained 0.27 percent to 11,330.8 after the Bank of England‘s Monetary Policy Committee held interest rates steady as well. The oil and mining sectors were higher. Meanwhile banks, energy generators and the insurance sector saw declines.

Equities markets in the Asia-Pacific region were mixed on Thursday, with the Shanghai Composite adding 1.56 percent to 5,393.66 as it fell back slightly after reaching a new record high during the day. Other regional markets that saw advances included the Kospi, which added 1.24 percent to 1,888,81 in South Korea. In Taiwan, the Taiex gained 1.16 percent to 9,017.08, while the Sensex gained 1.1 percent to 15,616.31 in India. The Straits Times index was higher to close at 3,466.06 in Singapore.

The Hang Seng index was 0.08 percent lower to 24,050.4 in Hong Kong as investors took profits after two days of market gains. Meanwhile in Australia, the Sydney Ordinaries dropped 0.14 percent to 6,265.3 and the S&P/ASX200 fell 0.19 percent to 6,251 after exporters declined on more bad news out of the US housing market.

Tokyo’s markets were mixed on the day as well. The Nikkei 225 added 0.61 percent to 16,257, but the Topix index dropped 0.1 percent to 1,568.52 and the Mothers market was 0.79 percent lower to 711.44.
There were gains in the telecommunications sector, but carmakers, banks, and the real estate sector were all lower.

The New York markets were up in early afternoon trade. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.52 percent higher to 13,374.73, while the Nasdaq Composite had added 0.23 percent to 2,612.03 and the S&P 500 was 0.33 percent higher to 1,477.21. Retailers and the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sectors were up, but the oil sector was mixed.

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