World stock markets were mostly higher Monday as investors shrugged off weak U.S. employment figures and looked forward with optimism to earnings season, AP reported. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index added 0.2 percent to 22,888.76 and Seoul's Kospi rose 0.5 percent to 1,948.92. China's benchmark Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.2 percent to 2,009.5. Tokyo was closed for a holiday. In Europe, France's CAC-40 added 0.1 percent to 4,254 and Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.1 percent to 6,748.05. Germany's DAX was little changed at 9.476.14. On Wall Street, the futures for the Dow Jones Industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index both fell by 0.1 percent. Markets quickly dismissed Friday's unexpectedly weak data showing a sharp decline in hiring by American companies last month. Analysts said it was a fluke, due partly to bitterly cold weather, following weeks of data showing the U.S. economy improving. Market benchmarks in India, New Zealand, the Philippines and Indonesia rose. Sydney bucked the trend, with its S&P/ASX 200 shedding 0.4 percent to 5,292.10. Thailand's SET index gained 1.1 percent despite street protests by anti-government activists aimed at shutting down swathes of Bangkok and forcing the Thai prime minister from office. Analysts warned the Thai economy and currency could suffer if the protests continue. In currency markets, the dollar fell to 103.41 yen from 103.95 yen late Friday. The euro dropped to $1.3660 from $1.3676.
