World markets little changed, except in China

European and Asian stock markets finished narrowly mixed Monday in mostly light trading. U.S. financial markets were closed for the Labor Day holiday.

“It’s a quiet day today largely because of the U.S. holiday,” said Philip Shaw, a strategist at Investec Securities.

The U.S. holiday dried up liquidity, and brokers said trading was likely to remain muted for the early part of the week.

“The reality is, there’s only one market that moves the others along,” said Stuart Eaves of Waddell Johnston McCarthy in Wellington, New Zealand.

Chinese stocks touched a record while Japanese stocks declined.

In Europe, Britain’s FTSE 100 index inched up 0.2% while the German DAX 30 advanced 0.1%. But the French CAC 40 index ended 0.2% lower.

France’s Gaz de France and utility Suez reversed early gains to trade lower after announcing new terms for their long-awaited deal to combine the companies.

Gaz de France shares slid 2.7%, and Suez shares lost 3.3%.

The pan-European Dow Jones Stoxx 600 index ended 0.3% higher at 377.01.

In Asia, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index closed down 0.3%.

The market was unsettled by the resignation of the agriculture minister and by government data showing capital spending by Japanese companies fell in the spring quarter for the first time in four years.

In China, the Shanghai composite index gained 2% to close above 5,300 for the first time, as airlines surged on news of a deal involving China Eastern Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Temasek Holdings, the Singapore state investment company.

Hong Kong shares dipped 0.3%, weighed down by profit taking and expectations of a delay in allowing Chinese investors to buy Hong Kong stocks.