US: Dow, S&P 500 edge lower ahead of China trade talks
US President Donald Trump said an 80 per cent tariff on China 'seems right' in a post on social media. The world's two biggest economies have imposed triple-digit levies on each other in recent weeks.
Representatives from the two countries are scheduled to meet in Switzerland this weekend. Analysts do not expect a breakthrough but are hoping for deescalation in the trade war.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 0.3 per cent at 41,249.38.
The broad-based S&P 500 dipped 0.1 per cent to 5,659.91, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index was flat at 17,928.92.
Stocks avoided major swings on Friday on a day with no major economic releases.
'If ever there was a wait and see Friday, this is it,' said Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth Management. 'It's all about our perceptions of how the trade war is going.'
Among individual companies, Lyft shot up more than 28 per cent as it announced a new US$750 million share repurchase programme after reporting mixed earnings.
But Expedia dropped 7.3 per cent as it flagged 'weaker than expected' travel demand in the United States, adding to worries about the company's outlook. AFP
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