Investing.com - U.S. stock markets were mixed on Tuesday, after a report showed that consumer confidence in the United States fell unexpectedly in June and amid persisting fears over Europe’s sovereign debt crisis.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.20%; the S&P 500 index fell 0.18%% and the Nasdaq Composite index was down 0.75%.
Earlier Tuesday, Investor's Business Daily and TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence said their IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index slipped to 46.2 during the month, down from February's reading of 48.7.
Economists had expected the figure to come in at 49.3. Readings above 50 indicate optimism, while those below 50 point to pessimism.
Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings said that the scale of Britain’s fiscal challenge is “formidable,” renewing fears that the euro zone debt crisis may still spread to affect the regions largest economies.
Meanwhile, stock markets in Europe were down: France’s CAC 40 was down 1.49%; Germany's DAX fell 1.32%; Britain's FTSE 100 was 1.25%; and the EURO STOXX 50 fell 1.4%
Late Monday, the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, said that given the depth of the recession, the recovery is “moderate paced.” He added that European policy makers “are committed to avoiding default in Greece” and elsewhere.
His comments helped alleviate concern about the pace of the economic recovery after slower-than-expected jobs growth in the U.S. last week rattled markets.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.20%; the S&P 500 index fell 0.18%% and the Nasdaq Composite index was down 0.75%.
Earlier Tuesday, Investor's Business Daily and TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence said their IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index slipped to 46.2 during the month, down from February's reading of 48.7.
Economists had expected the figure to come in at 49.3. Readings above 50 indicate optimism, while those below 50 point to pessimism.
Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings said that the scale of Britain’s fiscal challenge is “formidable,” renewing fears that the euro zone debt crisis may still spread to affect the regions largest economies.
Meanwhile, stock markets in Europe were down: France’s CAC 40 was down 1.49%; Germany's DAX fell 1.32%; Britain's FTSE 100 was 1.25%; and the EURO STOXX 50 fell 1.4%
Late Monday, the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, said that given the depth of the recession, the recovery is “moderate paced.” He added that European policy makers “are committed to avoiding default in Greece” and elsewhere.
His comments helped alleviate concern about the pace of the economic recovery after slower-than-expected jobs growth in the U.S. last week rattled markets.