Global markets closed Thursday, August 28, 2025, with a broadly mixed performance across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Israel. Investors balanced optimism from Wall Street gains with pressure on European equities and selective weakness in Asian indices. Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) closed mostly lower, reflecting caution from local and global investors ahead of Friday’s trade on August 29, 2025.

This report provides a comprehensive breakdown of Thursday’s movements and what to watch heading into today’s session.

Americas: Wall Street Extends Gains

U.S. markets ended Thursday on a positive note.

• IBOVESPA surged 1.32%, closing at 141,049.20, leading gains in the Americas.
• Nasdaq advanced 0.53% to 21,705.16, supported by strength in technology and AI-related stocks.
• S&P 500 rose 0.32% to 6,501.86, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.16% to 45,636.90.
• Russell 2000 climbed 0.19%, reflecting modest gains in small-cap equities.
• The U.S. Dollar Index firmed by 0.17% to 97.98, showing resilience as traders positioned ahead of upcoming economic data.
• Volatility eased, with the VIX falling 2.83% to 14.43, signaling stronger investor confidence.
• In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite ended nearly flat at 28,434.80 (+0.01%).

The U.S. markets’ performance reflected steady demand for equities amid ongoing expectations of stable interest rates and optimism around corporate earnings.

Europe: Mixed Trading With Pressure on London

In Europe, market sentiment was more cautious:

• MSCI Europe gained 0.48%, closing at 2,457.55.
• France’s CAC 40 rose 0.24% to 7,762.60, supported by luxury and energy stocks.
• The Euro Stoxx 50 inched higher 0.07% to 5,396.73, while DAX in Germany slipped 0.03% to 24,039.92.
• London’s FTSE 100 dropped sharply, down 0.42% to 9,216.82, as financials and consumer staples weighed on the index.
• The Euro Index strengthened 0.35% to 116.79, while the British Pound Index edged higher by 0.12% to 135.11.

Investors in Europe continued to weigh weak manufacturing data against optimism for monetary easing later in 2025.

Asia: Hong Kong Leads Gains, Japan Softens

Asian markets showed a mixed close:

• Hang Seng led the region with a 0.61% gain to 25,152.15.
• Nikkei 225 in Tokyo slipped 0.17% to 42,756.08, while South Korea’s KOSPI lost 0.13%.
• Mainland China’s Shanghai Composite (000001.SS) added 0.16% to 3,849.76.
• India’s S&P BSE Sensex rose 0.18% to 80,222.90, maintaining strong momentum.
• Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was nearly flat, up 0.02% at 8,981.70.
• Currency indices moved positively, with the Japanese Yen Index up 0.40% and the Australian Dollar Index higher by 0.36%.

Regional traders focused on economic data from China and Japan, as well as ongoing currency movements influencing equity sentiment.

Israel: Tel Aviv Market Closes Lower

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange reflected a cautious tone on August 28:

• TA-35 slipped 0.08% to 3,071.96, with 23 stocks advancing and 12 declining.
• TA-90 dropped 0.31% to 3,335.02, with broader weakness across mid-cap equities.
• TA-125 fell 0.13% to 3,129.62, with 56 gainers versus 64 losers.
• Sector indices also showed pressure: TA Banks & TA-90 fell 0.41%, and TA-125 Value declined 0.16%.
• In fixed income, All-Bond General Index held steady, while Tel-Bond indices saw minor losses.

Trading volumes remained healthy, with turnover in TA-35 exceeding 3.87 billion shekels.

Outlook for Friday, August 29, 2025

Looking ahead to today’s trade, global investors will monitor several key themes:

1. U.S. Momentum – Wall Street’s steady performance may continue supporting global risk appetite.
2. Europe’s Weakness – Pressure on the FTSE 100 and DAX could weigh on Friday’s sentiment.
3. Asia’s Divergence – Hong Kong’s resilience contrasts with Japan’s softness, creating a mixed backdrop.
4. Israel’s Position – With Tel Aviv indices slightly lower, investors will be watching for signs of stabilization or further downside.

Overall, the August 28 session highlighted resilience in the U.S. and Asia, while Europe and Israel showed more caution. On August 29, markets are expected to remain data-driven, with currency moves and corporate earnings shaping direction across regions.