US: Stocks mixed on slower hiring, economic uncertainty

[NEW YORK] Wall Street stocks closed mixed on Wednesday on signs that US economic activity was cooling, even though investors were careful not to overreact to a slowdown in private sector hiring.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2 per cent to 42,427.74, while the broad-based S&P 500 Index was flat at 5,970.81.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.3 per cent to 19,460.49.

Data from payroll firm ADP showed private sector employment growing by 37,000 jobs in May, sharply below expectations of 115,000 according to a Briefing.com consensus forecast.

But markets shrugged off the figures for now.

“Lower interest rates and the thought of the (Federal Reserve) responding sooner rather than later to signs of a weakening economy have acted as underpinning factors,” said analysts from Briefing.com in a note.

On Wednesday, the Fed also noted that “economic activity has declined slightly” in its latest “Beige Book” survey of economic conditions.

It flagged household and business caution due to heightened uncertainty surrounding US President Donald Trump’s policies and slower hiring as well.

Markets could have eked out some gains nonetheless on hopes that Trump would eventually reach a trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping to resolve a tariff battle launched by Washington, said Peter Cardillo of Spartan Capital Securities. AFP