South Korea Financial Markets

Most U.S. stocks rose, but drops for some influential technology companies pulled the market lower. The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% Wednesday for its eighth loss in 11 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was nearly flat and edged down less than 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite fell 0.7%. Stocks got a boost after a weaker-than-expected report on U.S. manufacturing helped Treasury yields pare gains in the bond market. That could mean less pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year. Three out of five stocks within the S&P 500 rose, but drops for AI winners weighed on the index.

Most U.S. stocks rose, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average set another record, but more drops for chip stocks and other AI winners kept indexes mixed. The S&P 500 finished basically unchanged on Thursday, even though seven out of every 10 stocks within the index rose. The Dow rallied 1.1%, while the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.8% after erasing an early gain. Stocks broadly got help from data showing U.S. hiring slowed last month. That pushed traders to trim bets for a possible hike to interest rates later this month. But chip stocks from Seoul to New York continued to slide.

Shares are mixed in Europe after a rally in Asia following the Dow Jones Industrial Average's latest record. U.S. futures wavered ahead of Friday's holiday, with markets due to remain closed on Wall Street for Independence Day. On Thursday, the S&P 500 finished basically unchanged, though seven out of every 10 stocks within the index rose. The Dow rallied 1.1%, while the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.8%, erasing an early gain. Stocks broadly got help from data showing U.S. hiring slowed last month. That pushed traders to trim bets on a possible hike to interest rates later this month.