Investing.com - U.S. stocks opened mixed on Monday, as markets were eyeing the release of upcoming U.S. economic data, while expectations for the Federal Reserve to soon begin tapering its stimulus program persisted.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.26%, the S&P 500 index fell 0.16%, while the Nasdaq Composite index inched up 0.05%.
Equity markets were jittery amid speculation that the Federal Reserve could start to unwind its USD85 billion-a-month asset purchase program before the end of the year.
Investors were looking ahead to Friday’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for November, for indications on the timing of a possible reduction in Fed stimulus.
Sentiment improved earlier, after a report showed that China’s final HSBC PMI inched up to 50.8 in November, up from a preliminary reading 50.4 and above expectations for a reading of 50.5.
The data was published one day after a government report showed that China’s manufacturing PMI held steady at an 18-month high of 51.4 in November, compared to forecasts for a decline to 51.1.
Among retailers, Wal-Mart shares edged up 0.10% and Best Buy added 0.25%, even as the first spending decline on a Black Friday weekend since 2009 reinforced projections for a lackluster holiday.
Amazon.com and Ebay surged 1.79% and 2.47% respectively after researcher ComScore reported online spending on Black Friday gained 15% to a record USD1.2 billion.
Separately, Amazon was said to be testing drones to deliver goods in a move to improve efficiency and speed in getting products to consumers.
Elsewhere, U.S.-traded BP shares added 0.23% as the Financial Times reported that the oil giant expects a surge in compensation payments for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, after a near-two month slowdown.
In the tech sector, Apple rallied 1.85%, still supported by last week's reports that the company sold three of every four smartphones in Japan in October after the country’s largest carrier, NTT Docomo, began carrying the iPhone. Apple won 76% of Japanese smartphone sales in October.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed to lower. The EURO STOXX 50 shed 0.39%, France’s CAC 40 slid 0.34%, Germany's DAX inched down 0.02%, while Britain's FTSE 100 retreated 0.77%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 0.66%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index eased 0.04%.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.26%, the S&P 500 index fell 0.16%, while the Nasdaq Composite index inched up 0.05%.
Equity markets were jittery amid speculation that the Federal Reserve could start to unwind its USD85 billion-a-month asset purchase program before the end of the year.
Investors were looking ahead to Friday’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for November, for indications on the timing of a possible reduction in Fed stimulus.
Sentiment improved earlier, after a report showed that China’s final HSBC PMI inched up to 50.8 in November, up from a preliminary reading 50.4 and above expectations for a reading of 50.5.
The data was published one day after a government report showed that China’s manufacturing PMI held steady at an 18-month high of 51.4 in November, compared to forecasts for a decline to 51.1.
Among retailers, Wal-Mart shares edged up 0.10% and Best Buy added 0.25%, even as the first spending decline on a Black Friday weekend since 2009 reinforced projections for a lackluster holiday.
Amazon.com and Ebay surged 1.79% and 2.47% respectively after researcher ComScore reported online spending on Black Friday gained 15% to a record USD1.2 billion.
Separately, Amazon was said to be testing drones to deliver goods in a move to improve efficiency and speed in getting products to consumers.
Elsewhere, U.S.-traded BP shares added 0.23% as the Financial Times reported that the oil giant expects a surge in compensation payments for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, after a near-two month slowdown.
In the tech sector, Apple rallied 1.85%, still supported by last week's reports that the company sold three of every four smartphones in Japan in October after the country’s largest carrier, NTT Docomo, began carrying the iPhone. Apple won 76% of Japanese smartphone sales in October.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed to lower. The EURO STOXX 50 shed 0.39%, France’s CAC 40 slid 0.34%, Germany's DAX inched down 0.02%, while Britain's FTSE 100 retreated 0.77%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 0.66%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index eased 0.04%.