The Dow Jones index gave up 0.53%, the Nasdaq dropped 0.52%, and the S&P 500 0.29%. The day before, the indices had concluded in the green, supported by a new sign of weakening US inflation.
Several major US banks unveiled comfortable results for the first quarter thanks in particular to the rise in interest rates. A 1% decline in retail sales in March -- more than expected -- dampened investor enthusiasm somewhat. The University of Michigan released its first estimate of US consumer confidence for April.