Global shares rise ahead of Biden’s inauguration as U.S President

Global shares were mostly higher ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration as U.S. president Wednesday.

France’s CAC 40 added 0.2% to 5,607.84 in early trading, while Germany’s DAX rose 0.2% to 13,848.56.

Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up 0.1% to 6,722.42. U.S. shares were set to drift moderately higher as Dow futures inched up less than 0.1% to 30,841.0. S&P 500 futures were up 0.3% at 3,800.12.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4% to finish at 28,523.26. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.4% to 6,770.40, while South Korea’s Kospi edged up 0.7% to 3,114.55

Hopes are growing that Joe Biden’s planned stimulus for the American economy as well as measures to curb the pandemic will boost regional markets.

Markets have been rising on enthusiasm about a coming economic recovery as more people are inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines and Washington gets set to try for another round of economic stimulus.