The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed higher on Wednesday while gold resumed its ascent as investors weighed upbeat earnings against mounting trade tensions between the United States and China. All three major U.S. stock indexes ended well below session highs as the day progressed and risk appetite cooled. The blue-chip Dow ended the day with a nominal loss.

Crude prices forfeited earlier gains and safe-haven gold hit new highs as Washington and Beijing ramped up the rhetoric in their ongoing tariff dispute. U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering cutting some trade ties with Beijing in response to China not buying U.S. soybeans. This followed China's ramped-up restrictions on crucial rare earth exports. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer blasted China's move on Wednesday, c

See Full Page