Shares Drop in Asia, Wall Street Hits the Brakes

Asian markets, excluding China, took a dip on Tuesday as investors waited for earnings reports. Japan's Nikkei slid 1. 1%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 1. 6%, and South Korea's Kospi dipped nearly 1%. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite rose slightly after China's interest rate cut took effect. Wall Street's winning streak ended, with the S&P 500 slipping 0. 2% and the Dow Jones dropping 0. 8%. The Nasdaq, however, rose 0. 3%. Real estate stocks took the biggest hit, with homebuilders like Lennar and D. R. Horton falling over 4%. Home Depot also dropped significantly. The market pause comes amid hopes that the U. S. can avoid a recession while dealing with high inflation. The Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts aim to keep the economy strong. Yet, some investors warn that stock prices are too high compared to corporate profits. This week, more than 100 S&P 500 companies, including giants like AT&T, Coca-Cola, and Tesla, will release their summer performance reports. Tesla's stock wobbled after an update on its robotaxi didn't meet investor expectations. Boeing, on the other hand, rose 3. 1% after striking a deal with its machinists' union. Trump Media & Technology Group's stock surged, possibly due to speculation about former President Donald Trump's reelection chances. The bond market saw the 10-year Treasury yield rise to 4. 19%. The Bank of Canada may cut interest rates by half a percentage point on Wednesday. Energy prices also moved, with U. S. crude oil dipping to $70. 35 a barrel and Brent crude to $74. 11. The U. S. dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen, while the euro remained steady.