• The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.19 points, or 0.01 percent, to 20,979.75, the S&P 500 lost 1.65points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,400.67 and the Nasdaq Composite added 20.20 points, or 0.33 percent, to6,169.87.
In Dow Jones news today, the markets were flat because of ongoing geopolitical concerns and tensions in Washington.
• The disclosure adds to concern over the administration's chances of passing legislation, including tax reform, that has been priced in partly by financial markets. Major U.S. stock indexes remain at or near record highs, supported by the strongest earnings season for S&P 500 components since 2011.
• U.S. share futures and the dollar slipped in early Asian trade on Wednesday after reports that President Donald Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to end a probe into his former security adviser.
The reports raised questions about whether charges of obstruction of justice could be laid against Trump, weakening confidence in the U.S. president's ability to push through an aggressive stimulus program that investors had been banking on since his election last November.
• Equities in Asia lost ground on Wednesday, with Dow futures tumbling and the safe-haven yen climbing amid political and legal turmoil surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump.
• The Nikkei fell 0.62 percent by 8:36 a.m. as the safe-haven yen strengthened in the wake of renewed political risk. The dollar was fetching just 112.57 yen at 8:02 a.m. HK/SIN, an around two-week low.
Reference: Money Morning, Reuters, CNBC
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