Asian Markets Shine While Europe Slips on Holiday-Thinned Monday

Asian markets outperformed while most European indexes slipped on Monday, in thin holiday-thinned trading after the U.S. Labor Day break left Wall Street closed. With lower liquidity, investors focused on regional data and company developments, particularly in technology and export-oriented sectors. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 2.12%—up 1,378.90 points—to close at 66,399.84, its strongest single-day gain in months, helped by a weaker yen and buying in semiconductor names. South Korea’s KOSPI Composite jumped 4.61% to 6,995.39, while Taiwan, Malaysia, and several others also rose. Hong Kong, Singapore, and India were among the decliners. In Europe, EURO STOXX 50 edged up, but London’s FTSE 100 fell and Belgium’s BEL 20 dropped the most.