Japan Financial Markets

Global markets have mostly advanced but Japan's Nikkei 225 dipped ahead of Lunar New Year holidays after new data showed weaker-than-expected economic growth in the latest quarter. Hong Kong's stock market traded for half a day, while the markets in mainland China, South Korea and Taiwan were closed. U.S. markets are also closed Monday for a holiday. On Friday, Wall Street steadied after investors reassessed their AI fears. The S&P 500 rose less than 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite fell 0.2%. Stocks also got some help from a report showing inflation cooled last month.

U.S. stock indexes are drifting lower in their return to trading from a three-day holiday weekend. The S&P 500 fell 0.8% Tuesday and was on track for a fourth loss in its last five days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 183 points, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.2%. General Mills dropped after cutting its profit forecast for the year, while Warner Bros. Discovery rose after saying it would give Paramount some time to give its best and final offer to buy the company. Drops for Nvidia and other Big Tech stocks weighed on the market.