US stocks mostly rise ahead of retail sales data
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Traders working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York City, on May 14.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NEW YORK - Wall Street stocks finished mostly higher on May 15 following a choppy session as markets look ahead to key US retail sales and inflation data.
Analysts described the indecisive session as reflective of a quiet day for macroeconomic news after markets soared Monday on a favorable US-China trade announcement before mostly extending those gains on May 13.
“Investors are just taking a little bit of a pause after yesterday’s strong gains and we’re waiting for tomorrow’s macro news,” said Mr Peter Cardillo, of Spartan Capital Securities.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.2 per cent at 42,051.06.
The broad-based S&P 500 edged up 0.1 per cent to 5,892.58, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.7 per cent to 19,146.81.
After stocks tumbled in early April following sweeping tariff actions announced by US President Donald Trump, the market has rebounded as Mr Trump has retreated from many of the actions.
Analysts have mixed views on whether the market could still go much higher.
Those perspectives were outlined in a note from CFRA Research’s Sam Stovall, who concluded that, based on the breadth of recent stock market gains, “CFRA sees additional upside ahead.”
Among individual companies, Boeing added 0.8 per cent after reaching a large airplane deal with Qatar Airways. Under a deal announced by Mr Trump, Qatar Airways will acquire up to 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X aircraft.
Markets are looking ahead to reports on May 15 on wholesale prices and retail sales for April, as well as earnings from retail behemoth Walmart. AFP
