Global Stocks

European stocks ended a choppy session in the red on Friday after weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales cast doubt on the health of the world's largest economy.

The Stoxx Europe 600 SXXP, -0.01% dropped 0.2% to close at 346.09, partly erasing a 0.8% gain from Thursday, which was fueled by higher oil prices. For the week, it ended 1.4% higher.

U.K. stocks rose Monday, with gains in energy shares helping to lift the FTSE 100 to a new high for the year, as the benchmark extended its run of winning sessions.

The FTSE 100 UKX, +0.36% finished up 0.4% at 6,941.19, its best close since early June 2015, according to FactSet data. The index has risen for eight straight sessions, matching the longest string of wins since October 2015.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 index, and the Nasdaq Composite Index all closed at record highs on Monday for the second time since 1999, thanks in part to a sharp uptick in oil prices, which boosted energy and materials shares.

The S&P 500 SPX, +0.28% rose 6.10 points, or 0.3%, to close at 2,190.15, with seven of the 10 main sectors trading higher. The materials, industrial, and energy sectors led the gains, while so-called defensive sectors, such as utilities, consumer staples and telecom were in negative territory. On Thursday, the index closed at a high of 2,185.79.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.32% gained 59.58 points, or 0.3%, to 18,636.05, with shares of DuPont DD, +1.45% and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. GS, +1.41% leading the gains. Back on Thursday, the Dow closed at a high of 18,613.52.

The Nasdaq Composite COMP, +0.56% logged its third record closing high in a row, advancing 29.12 points, or 0.6%, to finish at 5,262.02, topping Friday's previous closing high of 5,232.89.

Aug 16 Japan's Nikkei share average edged down on Tuesday morning as weakness in domestic demand-driven stocks offset gains in cyclicals such as exporters in a relatively quiet holiday-thinned market.

The Nikkei dropped 0.2 percent to 16,837.98 in midmorning trade.

Traders said that with many investors away for Japan's 'bon' holidays, activity will likely be subdued again. On Monday, trading volume stood at only 1.24 billion shares on the broader market, the lowest level since April 2014.

The downside for the broader market, however, will likely be limited thanks to strong performances in overseas stocks, they said.