• The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 41.31 points, or 0.16 percent, to 26,252.12, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 1.6 points, or 0.06 percent, to2,837.54 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 45.23 points, or 0.61 percent, to 7,415.06.
The S&P 500 was little changed on Wednesday while the Nasdaq lagged in choppy trading in the wake of comments by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross which hinted at action against China in a trade war.
• U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said at the World Economic Forum in Davos that U.S. trade authorities were investigating whether there is a case for taking action over China’s infringements of intellectual property.
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak in Davos on Thursday.
• Earnings season continues to be strong, with S&P 500 growth expected at 12.4 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data through Wednesday morning. Of the 88 companies in the index that have posted results, 78.4 percent have topped expectations versus the 72 percent beat rate for the past four quarters.
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• Major indexes in Asia traded mixed early on Thursday while the dollar remained on the back foot after tumbling in the last session.
• Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 declined 0.87 percent, with most sectors — including automakers, technology, manufacturing and financials — trading in negative territory. Major exporters traded lower following the dollar's overnight fall against the yen. Fanuc Manufacturing declined 2.08percent and Nintendo lost 1.21 percent.
The Nikkei 225 had notched a fresh 26-year high earlier in the week, but closed in negative territory in the last session. The index has gained around 2.8 percent year-to-date.
• Over in South Korea, the Kospi rose 0.31 percent in early trade, with recent earnings reports in focus.
Reference: Reuters
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