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France's CAC 40 slipped 0.3% in early trading to 8,026.35, while
the German DAX dipped 0.3% to 24,081.63. Britain's FTSE 100
added 0.1% to 9,652.21.
The future for the S&P 500 edged 0.1% higher and that for the
Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed.
In Asian trading, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped 0.1% to
finish at 50,602.80. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped nearly 0.1%
to 8,579.40. South Korea's Kospi declined 0.2% to 4,135.00. Hong
Kong's Hang Seng gained 0.4% to 25,540.78, while the Shanghai
Composite shed 0.2% to 3,900.50.
Taiwan's Taiex surged 0.8%.
Lower interest rates can boost the economy and prices for
investments, though they can worsen inflation. The U.S. stock
market has run to the edge of its records in part because of the
assumption the Fed will cut rates again.
Apart from a likely rate cut, investors are waiting to see what
the Fed will say about where interest rates will go after that.
Inflation has remained above the Fed’s 2% target, and Fed
officials are split in their opinions about whether high
inflation or the slowing job market is the bigger threat to the
economy.
In other dealings early Wednesday, benchmark U.S. crude rose 11
cents to $58.36 a barrel. Brent crude, the international
standard, added 16 cents to $62.10 a barrel.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar fell to 156.82 Japanese yen
from 156.89 yen. The euro cost $1.1644, up from $1.1626.
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