US markets end mostly lower on Thursday

16 Jul 2021 Evaluate

The US markets ended mostly lower on Thursday on renewed concerns about the global economic outlook after a report from China's National Bureau of Statistics showed Chinese GDP growth slowed by more than expected in the second quarter. The report showed Chinese GDP grew 7.9 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, shy of expectations for a gain of 8.1 percent and down sharply from 18.3 percent in the three months prior. Indications some central banks around the world are considering tightening monetary policy much sooner than the Federal Reserve may have added to worries about the global economy. Traders were also digesting a slew of US economic data, including a report from the Federal Reserve showing industrial production increased by less than expected in the month of June.

The Fed said industrial production rose by 0.4 percent in June after climbing by a downwardly revised 0.7 percent in May. Street had expected industrial production to increase by 0.7 percent. The weaker than expected growth was partly due to a 0.1 percent dip in manufacturing output, which came as an ongoing shortage of semiconductors contributed to a 6.6 percent nosedive in the production of motor vehicles and parts. The Labor Department also released a report showing first-time claims for unemployment benefits decreased in line with street estimates in the week ended July 10th. The report said initial jobless claims fell to 360,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week's revised level of 386,000. Street had expected jobless claims to dip to 360,000 from the 373,000 originally reported for the previous week.

Nasdaq dropped 101.82 points or 0.7 percent to 14,543.13 and S&P 500 was down by 14.27 points or 0.33 percent to 4,360.03, while Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 53.79 points or 0.15 percent to 34,987.02.

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