U.S. stocks closed mostly lower on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 falling from a record high after data signaled a slowdown in jobs growth in July, and General Motors tracked its worst day since early March. GM’s shares slumped 8.9%, underscoring the uncertainty facing global automakers at a time of technological and economic disruption. Shares of rival Ford Motor Co fell 5.0%.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 323.73 points, or 0.92%, to 34,792.67, the S&P 500 lost 20.49 points, or 0.46%, to 4,402.66 and the Nasdaq Composite added 19.24 points, or 0.13%, to 14,780.53.

European shares ended at fresh highs with technology stocks hitting a 20-year peak, while optimism over the second-quarter earnings season continued to feed into positive sentiment. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.6% to a record high of 468.22 points, extending its record-setting run to a third day. Technology stocks were the best performers for the day, surging 1.9% to levels last seen during the dot-com bubble. Dutch chemicals firm IMCD and satellite maker SES were the top performers on the STOXX 600, rising 10.5% and 9.9%, respectively, on strong results.

Maltese markets also ended higher, with the MSE Equity Total Return Index closing up 0.13 percent at 7,992.877 points. Loqus Holdings Plc led the gains with shares up 56.8 percent at €0.098, following by BMIT Technologies Plc, up 3.31 percent at €0.50. Trident Estates Plc meanwhile p;osted the largest drop with shares down 12.5 percent at €1.40. The MSE Malta Government Stocks Total Return Index edged up 0.05 percent to 1,115.191 points while the MSE Corporate Bonds Total Return Index lost 0.17 percent to 1,137.927 points.

Source: Reuters, Malta Stock Exchange

The information, view and opinions provided in this article are being provided solely for educational and informational purposes and should not be construed as investment advice, advice concerning particular investments or investment decisions, or tax or legal advice. Calamatta Cuschieri Investment Services Ltd has not verified and consequently neither warrants the accuracy nor the veracity of any information, views or opinions appearing on this website.