Global equity markets presented a mixed picture on May 29, 2026, with major Asian stock indices posting strong gains while European markets remained divided in their performance.
In Asia, South Korea's Kospi index led the charge, soaring over 3.5%, reflecting strong investor confidence in the Korean economy. Japan's iconic Nikkei 225 index climbed more than 2.5%, buoyed by continued optimism around the country's economic recovery and a favourable currency environment. Singapore's Straits Times Index gained around 1%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index posted a more modest rise of 0.7%, supported by technology and financial sector stocks. The notable exception in the Asian region was China's Shanghai Composite Index, which slipped over 0.7%, dragged down by lingering concerns about the pace of China's domestic economic recovery and ongoing property sector challenges.
The rally across much of Asia came on the back of renewed optimism in global markets, particularly around a potential easing of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that had rattled crude oil markets in recent weeks. Lower energy prices generally benefit import-dependent Asian economies, improving corporate margins and boosting consumer sentiment.
On the European front, the picture was more uneven. France's CAC 40 climbed 0.7%, showing resilience driven by luxury and energy stocks. London's FTSE 100 also edged higher by more than 0.2%, reflecting steady performance from commodity and banking stocks. However, Germany's DAX slipped over 0.2%, weighed down by concerns over the outlook for its export-heavy industrial sector at the time reports last came in.
