US stock markets closed mixed on Wednesday on a lower-than-expected rise in inflation in April.
The S&P 500 gained 17.93 points, or 0.44%, to close at 4,137.10. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 124.68 points, or 1.04%, to close at 12,304.23. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 33.45 points, or 0.10%, at 33,528.36.
During the intraday, the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.17% and Alphabet shares on the inflation data.
Google-parent Alphabet benefited as it rolled out more artificial intelligence for its core search product.
Tech stocks also gained, including Apple and Microsoft.
Regional lenders widened losses on concerns of the banking sector.
Annual consumer inflation rose 4.9% last month, only a touch lower than 5.0% in March, official data showed, despite strong efforts to rein in price rises.
Currencies
The US dollar fell from 135.17 to 134.26 to the Japanese yen. The euro rose to $1.0977 from $1.0969.
Europe
European shares declined after the release of US inflation data. The pan-European STOXX 600 index closed down 0.4%. Energy and miners were the top sector gainers on the STOXX 600, with gains of 1.3% and 1.2%, respectively.
Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.3% to close at 7,741.33. Germany’s DAX closed down 0.4% at 15,896.23. France’s CAC 40 closed down 0.5% at 7,361.20.
Asia
Major stock indices in Asia fell on Wednesday.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed down 0.5% at 19,762.20. The Shanghai Composite in China closed down 1.2% at 3,319.15. South Korean benchmark Kospi fell 13.55 points, or 0.54%, to close at 2,496.51.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed down 0.4% at 29,122.18.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 0.1% at 7,255.7. New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.8% to 11,987.3.
energy prices
Brent crude for July delivery fell $1.03 to $76.41 a barrel on Wednesday. The benchmark US crude for June delivery fell $1.15 to $72.56 a barrel.
Natural gas for June delivery fell 8 cents to $2.19 per 1,000 cubic feet.
bullion
Gold for delivery in June fell $5.80 to $2,037.10 an ounce. Silver for delivery in July declined 24 cents to $25.66 an ounce.
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