US markets ended mixed on Thursday, with investors juggling upbeat and cautious signals from Big Tech earnings and renewed optimism around US-China trade ties.The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% from its all-time high earlier this week, while the Nasdaq composite lost 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, gained 199 points, or 0.5%, by mid-morning trade, AP reported.Markets were reacting to comments from US President Donald Trump, who called his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping a “12 out of 10” and announced plans to reduce tariffs on Chinese goods. Analysts, however, warned that despite the warm rhetoric, structural trade tensions remain unresolved.“The result was fine, but fine isn’t good enough given the expectations going in,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management. “The results were more like small gestures instead of a grand bargain.”Big Tech weighs on sentimentTech stocks saw sharp divergences after earnings. Meta Platforms tumbled 11.3%, wiping off part of its 28% gain this year, as investors reacted to higher spending plans for 2026. Microsoft fell 2.5% despite reporting stronger quarterly earnings and revenue, with concerns about slower Azure growth and rising investment costs.Alphabet bucked the trend, rising 5.3% after reporting better-than-expected profit and revenue. Together, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft make up nearly 14.5% of the S&P 500’s total market value — meaning their moves can swing the broader market.Broader movers and macro watchChipotle Mexican Grill slumped 18% after trimming its sales growth forecast, citing “persistent macroeconomic pressures.” In contrast, Eli Lilly rose 1.7% as strong sales of its diabetes and obesity drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound boosted profits, prompting an upward revision to its annual guidance.Sherwin-Williams gained 2% after beating profit estimates despite a “softer for longer” demand outlook, while Visa advanced 1.5% on stronger-than-expected results.Fed caution lifts bond yieldsThe 10-year US Treasury yield rose to 4.09% from 4.08% the day before, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said a December rate cut “is not a foregone conclusion.” Traders still expect a rate reduction later this year, but with less certainty, according to CME Group data.In Europe, France’s CAC 40 dropped 0.9% and Germany’s DAX shed 0.2% after the European Central Bank held rates steady. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed nearly flat after the Bank of Japan also kept its policy unchanged

Former Asda boss Roger Burnley is to join the board of Marks & Spencer.

He will become a non-executive director of the high street giant from December 1, the company told shareholders on Thursday.

The retail veteran was the boss of rival Asda from 2017 until 2021, when he left the business following its £6.8 billion takeover by the Issa brothers and TDR Capital.

He was retail operations director at Sainsbury’s before moving to Asda and is currently a non-executive director at Pets at Home.

Mr Burnley will become the latest supermarket heavyweight to join the business, after former Sainsbury’s boss Justin King stepped down earlier this year.

Mr King left the board in September after around six years.

The appointment comes after a turbulent year for Marks & Spencer after it was hit by a major cyber attack which forced it to shut down online sales for around six weeks.

It said the attack has cost the company around £300 million.

Mr Burnley said: “M&S is a much-loved brand which I have always admired as setting the standard in UK retail, and it is a privilege to be joining such an engaged board.

“Much progress has been made through the reshaping for growth strategy, but there remains so much opportunity, and I am looking forward to supporting the leadership team to capitalise on that in the years ahead.”

M&S chairman Archie Norman said: “Roger brings extensive experience in the food retail industry and supply chain transformation which will be invaluable as we enter the next phase of our plan to reshape M&S for growth.

Seoul: South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. are ramping up efforts to expand their presence in Japan with new hydrogen and electric vehicles (EVs), as per a report by Pulse, the English service of Maeil Business News Korea. At the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, which kicks off on Thursday, Hyundai Motor and Kia are expected to make their first joint appearance, targeting a market traditionally dominated by domestic automakers and internal combustion engine vehicles.

The report stated that before the event on Wednesday, Hyundai premiered The All-New NEXO, its latest hydrogen fuel cell electric SUV, while Kia debuted its PV5 purpose-built electric van.

“The All-New NEXO, which rivals the Toyota Mirai, is powered by a 150kW motor. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds, and offers a driving range of up to 720 km. Refueling takes about five minutes. Local sales are set to begin in the first half of next year. Kia also showcased its INSTER, known in Korea as the Casper Electric, and KONA Electric. The automaker said it plans to enter Japan’s electric van market next year with the PV5. The company expects rising demand as Japan aims to have 30 per cent of new car sales be electric by 2030,” the release said.

The automaker has partnered with Japan’s trading firm Sojitz Corp. to establish Kia PBV Japan, a joint venture focused on electric commercial vehicles.

Japan’s auto market remains dominated by domestic brands, led by Toyota, which controls nearly 90 per cent of the entire sales. Hyundai Motor re-entered Japan in 2022 after a 13-year absence.

“We will tailor our approach specifically for Japan,” said the report, quoted Hyundai Vice President Chung Yoo-suk. “In the compact car segment, we achieved our business plan for the first time this year since re-entering the market, and plan to continue introducing new models from next year.”