Global markets update: US stocks fall, investors eye inflation data

The consumer price index data for April is due on Wednesday.

The S&P 500 fell 18.95 points, or 0.46%, at 4,119.17. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 56.88 points, or 0.17%, at 33,561.81. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 77.36 points, or 0.63%, at 12,179.55.

The US dollar rose to 135.17 Japanese yen from 135.15. The euro fell to $1.0969 from $1.1007.

The yield on 10-year treasuries advanced 2 basis points to 3.53%.

Janet Yellen, US treasury secretary, has warned that the government could hit its debt limit by the start of June.

Canada

The stock index S&P/TSX closed flat on Tuesday. 

Europe

European stocks declined on Tuesday after a slew of weak corporate earnings.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index closed 0.3% lower.

Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.2% at 7,764.09. In Germany, DAX ended flat. France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.6% at 7,397.17.

Swedish real estate company SBB tanked 24.2% after it said it would halt dividend payments and scrap a planned share issue in the wake of a credit rating cut.

The Bank of England will announce its monetary policy decision on Thursday.

Asia

Asian stock markets mostly fell on Tuesday after data showed a steeper-than-expected drop in Chinese imports.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index slipped 2.1% at 19,867.58. In China, Shanghai Composite lost 1.1% at 3,357.67. South Korean benchmark Kospi fell 3.15 points, or 0.13%, to close at 2,510.06.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1% at 29,242.82.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.2% at 7,264.1. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index dropped 0.4% at 11,889.61.

Oil prices

Brent crude for July delivery gained 43 cents to $77.44 a barrel on Tuesday. US crude oil benchmark for June delivery rose 55 cents to $73.71 a barrel.

Bullion

Gold for June delivery rose $9.70 to $2,042.90 an ounce. Silver for July delivery added 7 cents to $25.90 an ounce.