Global equities delivered a mixed performance on Monday as Wall Street pushed higher, Europe followed with modest gains, and Asia maintained steady momentum. However, volatility spiked in the U.S. while Tel Aviv diverged, ending the session in negative territory. Investors are entering Tuesday’s trade with a cautious tone, balancing optimism around earnings with concerns over monetary policy and global growth.

U.S. Markets: Nasdaq Leads While Volatility Spikes

On Monday, September 15, 2025, U.S. equities closed broadly higher, though volatility surged. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.94% to 22,348.75, leading major benchmarks, while the S&P 500 added 0.47% to 6,615.28. The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a modest 0.11% gain, closing at 45,883.45.

Small-cap stocks also saw incremental gains, with the Russell 2000 rising 0.34% to 2,405.13. In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite Index advanced 0.50% to 29,431.02.

Despite the equity strength, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) jumped 6.30% to 15.69, highlighting growing investor caution. The U.S. Dollar Index eased slightly by 0.10% to 97.20, reflecting mild pressure on the greenback.

Investors are balancing optimism about corporate earnings with persistent concerns over global trade, energy costs, and potential central bank policy adjustments.

Europe: Broad Gains with FTSE Lagging

European equities ended Monday in positive territory, with broad-based advances across most benchmarks. The EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.92% to 5,440.40, while the CAC 40 in Paris mirrored that move, also gaining 0.92% to close at 7,896.93.

Germany’s DAX advanced 0.21% to 23,748.86, while the regional MSCI Europe Index climbed 0.66%. London’s FTSE 100 was the outlier, slipping 0.07% to 9,277.03 as weakness in commodity-linked shares weighed on the benchmark.

Currency indices showed relative strength: the Euro Index gained 0.30% to 117.65, while the British Pound Index improved by 0.29% to 135.98, underscoring resilience in European currencies against the dollar.

Asia: Momentum Maintained Across Key Markets

Asian trading on Monday saw steady advances, supported by positive global sentiment. South Korea’s KOSPI Composite Index surged 1.20% to 3,448.20, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.49% to close at 44,985.42.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.28% to 8,878.00, aided by resource and financial stocks, while the Australian Dollar Index edged higher by 0.31% to 66.68.

China’s Shanghai Composite (000001.SS) slipped 0.10% to 3,856.45, the only notable decliner in the region, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained a modest 0.08% to 26,468.95.

India’s S&P BSE Sensex inched up 0.11% to 81,874.17, and the Japanese Yen Index advanced 0.19% to 67.86, reflecting stable foreign exchange activity.

Tel Aviv: Local Equities Under Pressure

In Tel Aviv, equity indices diverged from the global uptrend, closing in negative territory on Monday. The TA-35 Index slipped 0.27% to 3,058.22, while the broader TA-125 Index fell 0.55% to 3,114.92.

The TA-90 Index saw sharper declines, down 1.32% to 3,313.96, signaling broad weakness among mid-cap stocks. Financials and banks also contributed to losses, with the TA-Banks & TA-90 Combined Index sliding 0.92% to 3,449.67.

Bond markets reflected a more stable picture. The All-Bond Index eased 0.12% to 411.38, while short-term government bonds posted a small 0.02% gain. Trading volumes were robust, with total equity turnover reaching approximately 2.8 billion shekels and bond turnover nearing 3.8 billion shekels.

Outlook for Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Looking ahead, investors will closely watch macroeconomic data releases in both the U.S. and Europe, alongside central bank commentary that could influence rate expectations. The spike in the VIX suggests heightened caution, even as equity markets continue to push higher.

In Asia, traders will monitor China’s policy stance after Monday’s Shanghai Composite decline, while in Europe, the FTSE 100 will be in focus given its divergence from continental peers. In Tel Aviv, domestic sentiment remains fragile, with investors awaiting signals from the banking and technology sectors.

Market participants should expect continued cross-market volatility on Tuesday, September 16, with global equity momentum facing headwinds from currency fluctuations and bond market movements.