* Boeing, Caterpillar earnings disappoint
* New U.S.-China trade talks expected next week
* MSCI ACWI flat
* Euro hits two-month low on poor PMIs
(Updates to U.S. market open, changes dateline, byline)
By Stephen Culp
NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were mixed on
Wednesday as a series of disappointing earnings reports damped
investor optimism over the prospect of a new round of U.S.-China
trade talks next week, while the euro dropped to a two-month low
amid soft economic data.
Boeing Co BA.N and Caterpillar Inc CAT.N shares slid
after their second-quarter results fell short of analyst
expectations. The industrial bellwethers weighed heaviest on the
Dow Jones index.
Boeing posted its biggest loss in a decade, owing to the
grounding of its 737 MAX aircraft, while Caterpillar was hurt by
weak China sales in the face of the U.S.-China tariff
war. "The weak earnings numbers reflect weakness in overseas
markets," said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment strategist at
Inverness Counsel in New York. "Boeing's got its own issues but
Caterpillar is a multinational and it should give us pause about
the global economy."
Investors had been heartened in recent days by the prospect
of a fresh round of U.S.-China trade negotiations next week and
expectations the European Central Bank and the U.S. Federal
Reserve would cut interest rates.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 129.99 points,
or 0.48%, to 27,219.2, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 0.31 points, or
0.01%, to 3,005.16 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 13.16
points, or 0.16%, to 8,264.57.
A series of purchasing manager index (PMI) readings in the
United States and Europe were weaker than expected, capping
gains in equity markets worldwide.
"The PMI data in Europe has been soft for some time," added
Ghriskey. "We continue to be concerned, and the (U.S.-China)
trade dispute continues to be a real impediment to the growth
rate of the global economy."
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.11% and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained
0.05%.
PMI data showed euro zone manufacturing contracting for the
sixth straight month, dragging the euro to a two-month low
against the dollar. The Canadian dollar continued to rally, threatening an
expected uptick in exports and raising the possibility that the
Bank of Canada would join its global peers and consider lowering
interest rates. The dollar index .DXY , tracking the greenback against six
major currencies, fell 0.03%, with the euro EUR= down 0.12% to
$1.1138.
Sterling GBP= was last trading at $1.2486, up 0.40% on the
day, after falling for several days as market participants
feared a greater risk of a no-deal Brexit under Britain's next
prime minister, Boris Johnson.
The Canadian dollar rose 0.03% versus the greenback at 1.31
per dollar.
U.S. Treasuries yields fell in line with yield declines in
European government debt after the downbeat economic data fueled
expectations that the European Central Bank will ease monetary
policy. Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR last rose 7/32 in price
to yield 2.0515%, from 2.074% late on Tuesday.
The 30-year bond US30YT=RR last rose 14/32 in price to
yield 2.5864%, from 2.607% late on Tuesday.
Oil prices climbed, boosted by a sharp decline in U.S. crude
stocks and simmering tensions in the Middle East. U.S. crude CLcv1 rose 1.1% to $57.38 per barrel and Brent
LCOcv1 was last at $64.23, up 0.63% on the day.
Spot gold XAU= added 0.4% to $1,423.00 an ounce but
remained short of last week's peak of $1,452.60.