US markets mixed in a relatively subdued session absent of any major stock-specific or economic news and with investors eyeing the start of the Federal Reserve's 2-day symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming that kicks off on Thursday (24 August) - Dow up +29-points or +0.13% (with Home Depot up +1.2% contributing most the index's gains) and the broader S&P500 +0.12%. The NASDAQ slipped -0.05% to extend falls into a third consecutive session.
In US economic data, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) printed at -0.01 for August versus consensus expectations of +0.10. July's figure was upwardly revised to +0.16 from +0.13 previously.
European markets lower as caution around geopolitical tensions trickled over from Asian trading, with banks among the weakest sectors (European banking index down ~0.9%) - DAX down -0.82% and CAC -0.52%. Fiat Chrysler rose +6.9% to a 19-year high after China's Great Wall said it was interested in the Italian-American automaker. London's FTSE 100 dipped -0.07%, with BHP Billiton Plc up +1.11% ahead of the release of their full year result this morning AEST.
