US: Stocks mixed as trade deficit ebbs

[NEW YORK] Wall Street stocks were mixed early Tuesday as markets digested data showing a lower US trade deficit ahead of a key inflation report later in the week.

The US trade deficit dipped by US$6.1 billion to US$68.9 billion in April, slightly larger than expected, as exports rose and imports fell, according to Commerce Department data.

Equities have been choppy in recent weeks as investors have assessed the upside of the reopening economy against worries over inflation and supply chain troubles.

This week's calendar includes crucial consumer price data on Thursday that could either exacerbate or mitigate inflation worries.

About 25 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.2 per cent to 34,575.43.

The broad-based S&P 500 was flat at 4,226.59, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.5 per cent to 13,943.96.

AFP