Stock markets wavered on Friday as investors digested mixed US economic data and awaited a landmark US-Russia summit aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump, setting off for the Alaska meeting with Vladimir Putin, described his Russian counterpart as a "smart guy" and hailed a "good respect level" on both sides.

The possibility of an end to a conflict that Putin began in 2022 had put the markets in optimistic mood, analysts said, although oil prices had been volatile owing to Russia's status as a major producer and uncertainty over the outcome of the Alaska meeting.

Wall Street opened on a mixed note as data showed US retail sales rose in July in line with analyst expectations.

Investors have been tracking US economic data for signs about the impact of Trump's tar

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