Dow threatens eighth straight drop as trade remains at forefront
U.S. stocks opened slightly lower on Thursday, with the Dow on pace to extend its lengthy losing streak to an eighth straight day as uncertainty over trade policy continued to dominate investor sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.2% to 24,593. If the blue-chip average finishes in the red, it will match its longest losing streak since March 2017. The S&P 500 was unchanged at 2,768. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.3% to 7,803. The Nasdaq, as has recently been the case, was supported by gains in large internet and technology stocks. Notably, Micron Technology Inc. jumped 4.6% a day after reporting strong results and giving an optimistic forecast. Broadly, markets remain fixated on trade tensions between the U.S. and key trading partners such as China and the European Union. Investors are worried the tensions and recent tariffs could develop into a headwind for the global economy. These concerns come as the U.S. economy, the world's largest, is increasingly viewed as in the late stages of its expansion.
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