· The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose rose 39.32 points, or 0.18 percent, to 22,158.18 The S&P 500 .SPX edged upgained 1.89 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,498.37, and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 5.91points, or 0.09 percent, to 6,460.19.
The indexes have hit several records this year, despite setbacks caused by turmoil in the White House, the timing of U.S. interest rate hikes, doubts about President Donald Trump’s ability to push through his pro-business reforms, and lately, tensions over a nuclear-weapons-capable North Korea.
· The launch of Apple’s iPhone X will test whether inflation is going to be weak as investors gauge demand for a product whose price starts at $999, said Mike Bell, global markets strategist with JP Morgan Asset Management in London.
Shares of Apple (AAPL.O) dropped 0.8 percent on concerns that the company’s newly launched iPhone X is too expensive and because its availability starting in November was later than expected. With the widely held stock up 37 percent so far this year, some analysts said it was time to cash in gains.
· Major indexes in Asia were mixed in early Wednesday trade ahead of the release of a barrage of China data due later in the morning. Markets also digested the rise in U.S. Treasury yields overnight following tax reform headlines out of Washington, although the dollar's advance paused.
· Japan's Nikkei 225 edged down 0.07 percent in early trade after three straight days of gains.
· Across the Korean Strait, the Kospi rose 0.24 percent, with blue chip technology companies driving gains. Oil stocks and brokerages also made gains.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
Thai
Eng