Global Stocks

Europe's benchmark stock index closed marginally lower on Wednesday, as London-listed shares sold off and Apple Inc. suppliers declined a day after the tech giant revealed its new iPhones. The Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, -0.02% fell 0.08 point to end at 381.34, narrowly breaking a five-session winning streak. On Tuesday, the benchmark rose 0.5%.

U.S. stock-market indexes eked out small gains with all three benchmarks closing at all-time highs on Wednesday. The main indexes spent most of the session flipping between small gains and losses as investors took a pause after several days of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.18% closed 39.32 points, or 0.2%, higher at 22,158.18. The S&P 500 SPX, +0.08% added 1.89 points, or less than 0.1%, to 2,498.37.

Equity markets across the Asia-Pacific region pared early gains Thursday morning after disappointing economic data out of China, as investors awaited a rate decision from the Bank of England. China's business activity slowed further last month, falling short of expectations, which will likely set off a fresh discussion on the deceleration of the country's economy after a strong first half.