A roundup of trading on major world markets:
NEW YORK – US stocks have finished lower following a mixed batch of earnings reports and another big decline by technology giant Apple.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 47.51 points (0.27 per cent) to 17,550.69.
The broad-based S&P 500 fell 4.72 (0.22 per cent) to 2,093.32, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index slid 9.84 (0.19 per cent) to 5,105.55.
Apple fell 3.2 per cent, leaving it down more than 12 per cent since its July 21 earnings release. Analysts have cited fears of slowing growth, in part due to weakening conditions in China, a key Apple market.
Insurer Allstate fell 10.2 per cent after a rise in payments for auto accidents dented second-quarter earnings, while handbag and accessories retailer Coach rose 3.2 per cent after reporting better-than-expected results.
LONDON – Europe’s main stock markets diverged as investors react to the fallout from the plunge of banking shares on the Athens stock exchange.
London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index slipped 0.03 per cent to finish at 6,686.57 points.
The CAC 40 in Paris slid 0.16 per cent to 5,112.14 points, while Frankfurt’s DAX 30 rose 0.11 per cent to 11,456.07 points.
The euro rose slightly to $US1.0957 from $US1.0954 late in New York on Monday.
The ATHEX index finished the day down 1.22 per cent after suffering its steepest ever fall of 16.32 per cent on Monday when trading resumed after a five-week shutdown imposed by the country’s debt crisis.
HONG KONG – Asian stocks closed mixed as China announced new rules restricting short selling after a recent market rout and Australia held interest rates at rock-bottom levels.
Shanghai jumped 3.69 per cent or 133.63 points to 3,756.54, while Hong Kong ended flat, down 0.02 per cent or 5.3 points to 24,406.12.
Tokyo eased 0.14 per cent or 27.75 points to close at 20,520.36, while Seoul gained 0.97 per cent or 19.50 points to close at 2,027.99.
In Australia, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index advanced 0.33 per cent or 18.6 points to close at 5,697.9.
WELLINGTON – The S&P/NZX 50 Index fell 24.09 points, or 0.4 per cent, from its record level to 5933.76.
