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Markets mixed Friday
NEW YORK, Positive retail sales numbers and economic growth in Europe lent some support to U.S. markets Friday although the Nasdaq index continued to slump.
Economists predicted second quarter growth as low as zero percent for the 27-member European Union and the 16-member eurozone. Eurostat said Friday the economies of both regions expanded 1 percent in April through June.
The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday that retail sales tacked higher in July compared to June, rising 0.4 percent to $362.7 billion.
The Dow Jones industrial average climbed tentatively in early afternoon trading, adding 29.67 points, 0.29 percent, to 10,349.62. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 1.13 or 0.1 percent to 1,084.74. The Nasdaq composite index fell 2.94 or 0.13 percent to 2,187.33.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose 14/32 to yield 2.69 percent.
The euro fell to $1.2782 from Thursday's $1.2827. Against the yen, the dollar rose to 86.235 yen from Thursday's 85.91 yen.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index added 0.44 percent, 40.87, to 9,253.46.
In Britain, the FTSE 100 index added 0.18 percent, 9.38, to 5,275.44.
NEW YORK, Positive retail sales numbers and economic growth in Europe lent some support to U.S. markets Friday although the Nasdaq index continued to slump.
Economists predicted second quarter growth as low as zero percent for the 27-member European Union and the 16-member eurozone. Eurostat said Friday the economies of both regions expanded 1 percent in April through June.
The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday that retail sales tacked higher in July compared to June, rising 0.4 percent to $362.7 billion.
The Dow Jones industrial average climbed tentatively in early afternoon trading, adding 29.67 points, 0.29 percent, to 10,349.62. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 1.13 or 0.1 percent to 1,084.74. The Nasdaq composite index fell 2.94 or 0.13 percent to 2,187.33.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose 14/32 to yield 2.69 percent.
The euro fell to $1.2782 from Thursday's $1.2827. Against the yen, the dollar rose to 86.235 yen from Thursday's 85.91 yen.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index added 0.44 percent, 40.87, to 9,253.46.
In Britain, the FTSE 100 index added 0.18 percent, 9.38, to 5,275.44.
