NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets closed with a divided performance on Monday, as technology shares lifted the Nasdaq Composite while a pullback in blue-chip stocks weighed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

The Standard and Poor's 500 managed a fractional gain to start the trading week. The broad-market index rose 8.85 points to close at 7,173.93, an increase of 0.12 percent. Trading volume on the index reached 2.976 billion shares. The S&P 500 moved between a session low of 7,146.72 and a high of 7,178.74, which also matched the index's 52-week peak. Its 52-week low stands at 5,433.24.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average underperformed, slipping into negative territory. The blue-chip index fell 62.67 points to finish at 49,168.04, a decline of 0.13 percent. Volume on the Dow totaled 508.757 million shares. The index traded within a daily range of 49,029.47 to 49,353.69. Its 52-week span stretches from a low of 39,745.63 to a high of 50,512.79.

The NASDAQ Composite led the major U.S. indexes higher, powered by gains in technology and growth stocks. The tech-heavy index advanced 50.50 points to end the session at 24,887.10, a gain of 0.20 percent. Volume on the Nasdaq reached 6.388 billion shares.

Market analysts noted that investors appeared to be rotating out of some cyclical and industrial names while maintaining exposure to large-cap technology stocks. The mixed session followed last week's gains, with traders awaiting further clues on interest rate policy and corporate earnings later in the week.

Monday FX Roundup: Dollar Mixed Against Major Peers, Aussie and Kiwi Lead Gains

Currency markets kicked off the trading week with a subdued tone on Monday, as the U.S. dollar recorded fractional moves against most major counterparts while commodity-linked currencies outperformed on renewed risk appetite.

The euro edged lower against the greenback. The EUR/USD pair traded at 1.1721, down 0.000075 or 0.01 percent on the session. The single currency moved between an opening level of 1.1696 and a daily high of 1.1754 before settling near its mid-point.

Sterling was effectively unchanged. GBP/USD stood at 1.3533, rising a mere 0.000030 for a flat reading of 0 percent from the open. The pound traded in a tight range, hitting a peak of 1.3576 and a trough of 1.3506.

The dollar posted slight gains against the Japanese yen. USD/JPY climbed 0.0605 to 159.4305, representing a gain of 0.04 percent. The pair saw an opening quote of 159.58, a high of 159.60, and a low of 159.09.

Against the Swiss franc, the dollar also advanced. USD/CHF added 0.000845 to reach 0.7856, a rise of 0.11 percent. Trading ranged from an open and peak of 0.7870 down to a low of 0.7830.

The greenback weakened more noticeably against its Canadian counterpart. USD/CAD fell 0.003425 to 1.3633, a decline of 0.25 percent. The pair opened at 1.3675, hit a high of 1.3682, and reached a low of 1.3597.

The standout movers of the session were the Australian and New Zealand dollars, both rallying firmly against the USD. AUD/USD surged 0.003555 to 0.7186, a gain of 0.5 percent. The pair opened at 0.7131, climbed to a high of 0.7200, and held a low of 0.7131. Meanwhile, NZD/USD jumped 0.002720 to 0.5908, representing an advance of 0.46 percent. Trading ranged from an opening level of 0.5867 to a peak of 0.5925, with a low of 0.5859.

Market participants attributed the strength in the Aussie and Kiwi to improving risk sentiment and firmer commodity prices, while the dollar's mixed performance reflected cautious positioning ahead of key U.S. inflation data later in the week. Volumes were generally moderate, with many major pairs moving within narrow intraday ranges.

Global Markets Close Mixed Monday as Investors Weigh Economic Signals

Global stock markets ended the first trading day of the week with a cautious tone on Monday, as major indexes in the UK , Canada, and Europe closed lower while several Asian benchmarks posted solid gains. Investors appeared to digest a mix of regional economic data and corporate developments, leading to a divided performance across world

Canada's benchmark index closed in the red. The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 85.92 points to 33,818.19, a loss of 0.25 percent. Volume on the TSX came in at 320.77 million shares.

In London, the FTSE 100 fell 57.99 points to close at 10,321.09, a decline of 0.56 percent.

Germany's DAX P slipped 45.45 points to finish at 24,083.53, down 0.19 percent, while in France the CAC 40 lost 15.90 points to end the session at 8,141.92, also registering a 0.19 percent drop.

The broader EURO STOXX 50 I index dropped 23.16 points to 5,860.32, a loss of 0.39 percent. The Euronext 100 Index declined 9.33 points to 1,794.09, down 0.52 percent, and the BEL 20 index of Belgian shares bucked the trend, adding 12.78 points to close at 5,355.49, a gain of 0.24 percent.

Asia-Pacific trading saw a varied picture. China's SSE Composite Index posted a modest advance, adding 6.44 points to close at 4,086.34, up 0.16 percent on volume of 3.161 billion shares.

In Hong Kong, the HANG SENG INDEX fell 52.42 points to 25,925.65, off by 0.20 percent, while in Singapore the STI Index dropped 30.13 points to 4,892.73, a decline of 0.61 percent.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 20.10 points to 8,766.40, down 0.23 percent, and the broader ALL ORDINARIES index lost 15.60 points to finish at 8,990.80, a 0.17 percent decline. Across the Tasman, New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 INDEX GROSS edged down 9.96 points to 12,874.94, a marginal 0.08 percent decline.

Indonesia's IDX COMPOSITE fell 22.97 points to 7,106.52, down 0.32 percent, and Malaysia's FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI dropped 3.07 points to 1,717.27, a loss of 0.18 percent.

However, several Asian markets posted notable advances. South Korea's KOSPI Composite Index surged 139.40 points to close at 6,615.03, a sharp gain of 2.15 percent. Taiwan's TWSE Capitalization Weighted Stock Index jumped 684.23 points to 39,616.63, rising 1.76 percent. Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 821.18 points to finish at 60,537.36, an impressive increase of 1.37 percent. India's S&P BSE SENSEX added 639.42 points to reach 77,303.63, up 0.83 percent,

In the Middle East,  Israel's TA-125 index also fell 3.43 points to 4,271.12, down 0.08 percent, while in Egypt the EGX 30 Price Return Index rose 298.00 points to 52,719.10, a gain of 0.57 percent on volume of 341.825 million shares.

In Africa, South Africa's Top 40 USD Net TRI Index fell 24.02 points to 7,060.41, a decline of 0.34 percent.

Several European indexes, including the DAX and CAC 40, hit their daily lows in the final hour of trading before stabilizing near the closing bell.

Market analysts pointed to lingering concerns over interest rate trajectories in Europe and the US, while strong performances in Asia were attributed to renewed foreign inflows and upbeat export data. Trading volumes were generally moderate ahead of key inflation reports expected later in the week.

(This report incorporates quotes retrieved with the assistance of artificial intelligence).

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