Global markets turned higher Thursday after Washington reopened for business. The 43-day federal shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, ended late Wednesday, giving traders some relief and removing a major political risk that had weighed on sentiment for weeks.
In Asia, investors reacted with cautious optimism. Japan's Nikkei index rose slightly, supported by a weaker yen that helped exporters. Mainland Chinese stocks gained as investors bet on consumer spending and infrastructure growth. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell, pulled down by weakness in property and technology shares. The uneven performance reflected a market still on edge after weeks of volatility.
