Foreign Markets Mixed: Europe Up, Asia Lower

Foreign stock markets were mixed ahead of the reopening of U.S. trading Monday.

Asian markets closed mostly lower, while Europe’s markets gained.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 504.48 points, or 5%, to 9,504.41 Monday. The Hong Kong market slid 3.5%.

But in Europe, the German market gained 2.9%, the British market rose 3% and the French market jumped 2.7%. The Dutch market surged 3.2%.

In North America the Mexican market slid 3.9% to a nine-month low as Wall Street sank. The Mexican market had been closed each day the U.S. market was closed last week.

But the Canadian market added 0.3% on Monday.

Brazil’s key index jumped 5.1% and Argentina’s gained 0.6%.

Early today key markets in Asia rebounded, despite Wall Street’s sell-off Monday. The Nikkei index was up 3.7% at midday, while Hong Kong was up 2.5%.

Hong Kong’s central bank today cut the country’s key short-term rate to match the cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve.