· The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 28.1 points, or 0.11 percent, to 24,726.65, the S&P 500 lost 2.22 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,679.25 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.89 points, or 0.04 percent, to 6,960.96.
Wall Street’s main indexes dipped on Wednesday, pausing after recent record highs as both houses of Congress approved a long-anticipated tax overhaul.
· The proposed changes include cutting the corporate tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent from Jan. 1, which could boost company earnings and pave the way for higher dividends and stock buybacks.
· Asian indexes lost ground on Thursday after U.S. stocks closed mostly flat following the passage of a comprehensive tax bill stateside. Meanwhile, investors in Asia awaited the Bank of Japan's monetary policy decision later in the day for clues on future policy.
· Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index shed 0.34 percent early in the day as investors awaited the Bank of Japan's policy decision due later in the session. The central bank is expected to hold steady on monetary policy.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
Thai
Eng