Stocks are mixed as investors keep an eye on tensions between the United States and China

SINGAPORE (AP) – Global equities were mixed on Thursday as investors digested US and Chinese insurance on trade, after a series of exchanges between the two leading to widespread uncertainty. at 12,206 and the CAC 40 of France lost 0.6 percent to 5,293. The British FTSE 100 lost 0.2% to 7,603. Wall Street was ready for a dim opening. Dow futures have been stable while S & P 500 futures, which closed Wednesday at its lows in nearly a month, have risen by less than 0.1% [19659002] lost 1.2 percent to 2,314.24. The Hong Kong Hang Seng added 0.5% to 28,497.32 while the Shanghai Composite in mainland China increased its losses by 0.9% to 2,786.90. The S & P / ASX 200 of Australia added 0.3% to 6,215.40. CHINA DEFENDS TRADE: The Chinese government defended its trade record on Thursday to defuse US and European pressure on market access and technology policy. A Cabinet report said China has fulfilled its responsibility as a "big country" and has contributed to "world peace and development". The report repeated promises to reduce some tariffs and facilitate controls on foreign investment. But he did not address complaints that Beijing is impeding access to promising industries and that plans for development of electric cars and other products run by the state violate the commitments of free trade of China.

MIXED US MESSAGES President Donald Trump has abandoned his plan to impose strict limits on Chinese investment in US technology companies. He urged Congress to strengthen existing laws that apply to all foreign countries instead. But gains have evaporated after Larry Kudlow, Trump's chief economic advisor, said in an interview with Fox Business that it should not necessarily be considered a softer position. The United States will impose a tariff of 25% on billions of dollars of Chinese products from July 6th. In response, China will increase its import duties on 34 billion US dollars of US goods

ANALYST'S S TAKE: "Mr. Robert Carnell, director of research and chief economist, said: "The strength of the dollar, widespread concern about global growth, rising oil prices, none of this has helped." at the ING bank.

ENERGY: Oil futures subsided after the rally over a report that showed US oil stocks fell sharply last week. The benchmark US crude fell 31 cents to $ 72.45 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained $ 2.23 to settle at $ 72.76 a barrel on Wednesday. Brent crude, used for the price of international oil, rose 18 cents to $ 77.80 in London

CURRENCIES: The dollar fell slightly to 110.18 yen Wednesday against 110.20 Japanese yen at the end of the day . The euro climbed from $ 1,1557 to $ 1,1584.