US market today: Wall Street trades mixed after record highs; investors track jobs data and global risks

US stocks were mixed in early trading on Wednesday, a day after key indices touched fresh record highs, as investors turned cautious ahead of crucial US jobs data and amid rising global uncertainty.The S&P 500 was hovering between gains and losses, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 28 points, or 0.1 per cent. The Nasdaq Composite was also marginally higher by 0.1 per cent. Both the S&P 500 and the Dow had closed at all-time highs in the previous session.US equity futures were mixed before the opening bell, with S&P 500 futures slipping less than 0.1 per cent, Dow futures rising 0.1 per cent and Nasdaq futures down 0.2 per cent.“Global uncertainty continues to deepen,” Tan Boon Heng of Mizuho Bank in Singapore said in a commentary, referring to geopolitical tensions following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces in a weekend operation.Analysts also flagged signs of fatigue in the technology-led rally that has driven markets higher in recent months.“Tech appetite is weaker in Asia,” said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote. “It increasingly feels like good news is no longer generating the same euphoria seen over the past three years. The tech rally is showing signs of fatigue, supporting rotation trades — a trend further reinforced by geopolitical headlines.”In corporate developments, Warner Bros once again rejected Paramount’s latest takeover bid and urged shareholders to back a rival $72 billion offer from Netflix. Shares of Warner Bros, Paramount and Netflix were largely unchanged following the announcement, which had been widely anticipated.Markets are also focused on a busy week of US labour market data, including job openings data due Wednesday and the government’s monthly jobs report scheduled for Friday. The data will be closely watched by the US Federal Reserve, which is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its meeting later this month after cutting rates three times in late 2025.Inflation remains above the Fed’s 2 per cent target, complicating prospects for further rate cuts despite concerns about a cooling labour market.In the bond market, US Treasury yields moved lower. In commodities, US benchmark crude oil slipped 9 cents to $57.04 a barrel, while Brent crude rose 8 cents to $60.78 a barrel. Gold fell 0.8 per cent and silver dropped 2.4 per cent.European markets were mixed, with France’s CAC 40 down 0.2 per cent, Germany’s DAX up 0.5 per cent and the UK’s FTSE 100 lower by 0.6 per cent.Asian markets also showed mixed cues. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.1 per cent after hitting a record in the previous session, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.6 per cent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.9 per cent and the Shanghai Composite edged up marginally.China late Tuesday announced a ban on exports to Japan of goods that could have military applications, adding to regional tensions after recent Chinese military drills around Taiwan.