World stocks showed a mixed performance on Wednesday, with U.S. benchmarks reaching new records amidst signs of a potential slowdown in the U.S. economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.1%, while the S&P 500 futures rose 0.1%. Notably, U.S. markets were closed in observance of Juneteenth.
European equity markets opened lower, with the FTSE 100 in London losing 0.2% and the DAX in Germany slipping 0.1%. In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index climbed 0.2% following positive trade data for May from Japan.
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 2.9%, while the Shanghai Composite index lost 0.4% after China's securities watchdog announced enhanced oversight of financial activities to mitigate risks. In Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1% lower, while South Korea's Kospi surged 1.2%.
On Tuesday, the S&P 500 set a new all-time high for the 31st time this year, gaining 0.3%. The Nasdaq composite and the Dow Jones Industrial Average also saw modest gains. Nvidia stood out as a top performer, driving the S&P 500 higher.
The Commerce Department reported a 0.1% increase in retail sales for May, below economists' projections, indicating potential cracks in household spending, a key driver of the U.S. economy. Inflation remains a concern, particularly for lower-income households.
In the energy market, U.S. benchmark crude oil traded at $80.56 per barrel, while Brent crude was at $85.16 per barrel. The dollar weakened slightly against the Japanese yen and the euro.
