FTSE 100 Modestly Higher In Cautious Trade

The manufacturing sector in Australia continued to expand in September, albeit at a slower pace, the latest survey from S&P Global revealed on Tuesday with a manufacturing PMI score of 51.6.

The Malaysia stock market on Monday ended the two-day slide in which it had fallen almost 15 points or 0.9 percent. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index now sits just above the 1,600-point plateau and it may add to its winnings on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets continued to be mildly positive on optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European markets were mixed and the U.S. bourses were up and the Asian markets figure to split the difference. The KLCI finished slightly higher on Monday following gains from the financial shares, losses from the telecoms and a mixed picture from the plantation stocks. For the day, the index rose 5.11 points or 0.32 percent to finish at 1,603.34 after trading between 1,596.46 and 1,604.31. Among the actives, 99 Speed Mart Retail sank 0.76 percent, while AMMB Holdings jumped 1.26 percent, Axiata plunged 2.95 percent, Celcomdigi slumped 1.06 percent, CIMB Group strengthened 1.11 percent, Gamuda surged 3.08 percent, IHH Healthcare and Maybank both added 0.41 percent, IOI Corporation eased 0.26 percent, Kuala Lumpur Kepong lost 0.50 percent, Maxis was down 0.27 percent, MISC dropped 0.93 percent, MRDIY soared 1.91 percent, Nestle Malaysia spiked 1.88 percent, Petronas Chemicals increased 0.45 percent, Petronas Dagangan plummeted 3.04 percent, Petronas Gas retreated 1.08 percent, PPB Group slipped 0.39 percent, Press Metal shed 0.53 percent, Public Bank improved 0.71 percent, QL Resources tanked 2.05 percent, RHB Bank collected 0.61 percent, Sime Darby stumbled 2.33 percent, SD Guthrie advanced 0.95 percent, Sunway rallied 1.86 percent, Telekom Malaysia fell 0.42 percent, Tenaga Nasional rose 0.30 percent, YTL Corporation gained 0.37 percent and YTL Power climbed 0.96 percent. The lead from Wall Street is mildly positive as the major averages opened in the red on Monday but quickly bounced higher and continued to trend that way throughout the session, ending near daily highs.

The South Korea stock market has alternated between positive and negative finishes through the last four trading days since the end of the 11-day winning streak in which it had surged more than 300 points or 9.6 percent. Now at a fresh record closing high, the KOSPI sits just beneath the 3,470-point plateau and it may tick higher again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets continued to be mildly positive on optimism over the outlook for interest rates. The European markets were mixed and the U.S. bourses were up and the Asian markets figure to split the difference. The KOSPI finished modestly higher on Monday following gains from the automobile producers and mixed performances from the financial shares, chemicals and technology stocks. For the day, the index added 23.41 points or 0.68 percent to finish at 3,468.65 after trading between 3,458.87 and 3,482.25. Volume was 280.84 million shares worth 11.84 trillion won. There were 545 decliners and 332 gainers. Among the actives, Shinhan Financial fell 0.43 percent, while KB Financial collected 0.34 percent, Hana Financial dipped 0.33 percent, Samsung Electronics surged 4.77 percent, Samsung SDI rallied 2.82 percent, LG Electronics improved 0.76 percent, SK Hynix shed 0.57 percent, Naver sank 0.85 percent, LG Chem jumped 1.69 percent, Lotte Chemical lost 0.76 percent, SK Innovation perked 0.19 percent, POSCO Holdings dropped 0.88 percent, SK Telecom slumped 0.72 percent, KEPCO advanced 0.98 percent, Hyundai Mobis strengthened 1.46 percent, Hyundai Motor accelerated 1.87 percent and Kia Motors rose 0.30 percent.

The U.S. dollar weakened against its major counterparts in the New York session on Monday, amid growing expectations of future rate cuts from the Federal Reserve.

Singapore will on Tuesday release August numbers for consumer prices, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In July, overall inflation was down 0.5 percent on month and up 0.6 percent on year, while core CPI rose an annual 0.5 percent,

The Switzerland market ended marginally up on Monday, despite struggling a bit early on in the session, and then for a few minutes in the final hour.

European stocks closed mostly weak on Monday amid geopolitical tensions, and the Trump administration's announcement of sweeping changes to the H-1B visa regime. Profit warnings by a few major auto companies weighed as well.

After moving to a new record high thanks to strong buying in the materials sector, the Canadian market remains fairly well placed in positive territory a little past noon on Monday. Amid geopolitical tensions and rising bets on more monetary easing by the Federal Reserve this year, gold and silver prices have risen sharply today, triggering hectic buying in the materials sector.