The US markets settled mostly higher on Friday, but The Dow Jones Industrial Average ending lower amid lingering concerns about a potential trade deal between the US and China. Adding to the worries, a report which said that the US and China do not even have a draft accord that specifies where they agree and disagree. The report comes after President Donald Trump said that he would not meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping before a crucial March deadline. Tariffs on Chinese goods are currently set to jump automatically on the deadline.
Besides, Trump is expected to sign an executive order next week banning Chinese wireless equipment from US networks ahead of the MWC Barcelona conference at the end of this month. The move was aimed at protecting the US from cyber threats. Nagging global growth worries also weighed on the markets with investors concerned that China’s slowdown has hit Europe after weak data and forecasts from the region.
S&P 500 gained 1.83 points or 0.07 percent to 2707.88 and Nasdaq was up by 9.85 points or 0.14 percent to 7298.20, while Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 63.20 points or 0.25 percent to 25106.33.
