Stock market today: Global shares mixed ahead of release of US retail sales and factory data

YURI KAGEYAMA

Global shares were trading mixed on Tuesday ahead of the release of U.S. retail sales and factory data.

European shares opened higher after many Asian markets retreated. U.S. futures were little changed and oil prices advanced.

Tuesday will bring updates on sales at U.S. retailers and on factory output. Strong spending by U.S. consumers has been one of the main reasons for the economy’s resilience, driven by a remarkably sturdy job market.

This week also will bring a slew of corporate earnings reports that investors are looking to for signs of where profits for U.S. companies are heading.

France’s CAC 40 gained 0.2% in early trading to 7,305.28. Germany’s DAX edged up less than 0.1% to 16,080.15. Britain’s FTSE 100 added 0.2% to 7,423.32.

The future for the S&P 500 was virtually unchanged. That for the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher. On Monday, the S&P 500