In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 finished down 0.2 percent, recording an even split of sector gainers and losers. Europe’s retail stocks led the gains Wednesday, up more than 1.2 percent amid earnings news. France’s Kering was the top sector performer, with shares rising 4.4 percent after stronger-than-anticipated sales figures in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank shares fell more than 5 percent on Wednesday as it said it was on track to swing to profit this year, despite reporting a steep decline in third-quarter profit.

In Currency Markets the pound fell to a six-week low on Wednesday before British Prime Minister Theresa May was due to meet Conservative Party lawmakers, some of whom have discussed toppling her in anger at her Brexit negotiations. Sterling fell on Wednesday to $1.29, its lowest since Sept. 10, and traded down half a percent. Against a weaker euro, the pound was flat at 88.31 pence. The euro fell more than half a percent against the US dollar to its weakest level since Aug. 20 after signs that economic growth could be slowing across the euro zone.

In Commodities Markets oil edged higher towards $77 a barrel on Wednesday after hitting a two-month low, after a strong drawdown in U.S. gasoline and diesel inventories augured for a coming seasonal rebound in refining demand. Traders were also focused on the return to looming U.S. sanctions on oil exporter Iran, balancing that against growing worries about weakening worldwide demand. Brent crude was up 11 cents at $76.55 a barrel. The global benchmark fell earlier in the session to $75.11, lowest since Aug. 24.

In US Equity Markets stocks fell on Wednesday as weak results from AT&T and sour outlook from chip-makers ahead of key earnings added to growing worries about corporate profit growth and overshadowed optimism from Boeing’s raised forecast. Texas Instruments fell 4.9 percent, helping pull the Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index down 3.63 percent. Advanced Micro Devices, which reports results after the bell, fell 6.1 percent and Intel, reporting on Thursday, fell 2.3 percent. The S&P 500 was down 1.20 percent and the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.61 percent, at 7,317.86.

In Bond Markets Treasury prices increased on Wednesday as investors remained wary of volatile equity markets, though Treasury yields rose from three-week lows reached on Tuesday as stocks pared losses. Benchmark 10-year notes gained 9/32 in price on the day to yield 3.13 percent, up from a three-week low of 3.11 percent on Tuesday. The Treasury Department will sell $39 billion in five-year notes on Wednesday, the second portion of $108 billion in short and intermediate-dated debt this week.