Beijing has approved a Chinese insurer’s plans to sell securities in London, signaling that a tie-up between the U.K. and Shanghai stock markets is no longer on hold. China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co. said late Tuesday that China’s market regulator had approved its planned listing in London. The group’s shares already trade in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and it has a market value of about $33.8 billion, according to FactSet. The...

International markets were subdued, following gains in the U.S., as investors assessed the pace of economic reopening. In Thursday-morning trading in Hong Kong, the city's Hang Seng Index retreated slightly, as did the Shanghai Composite. The S&P/ASX 200 benchmark in Australia advanced more than 0.5%, while indexes in Japan and South Korea edged up. E-mini S&P 500 futures fell 0.4%, suggesting U.S. stocks could retreat Thursday. Alex Wong, a director at hedge fund Ample Capital, said he has...

Global stocks faltered Thursday as investors await a closely anticipated European monetary policy decision as well as fresh U.S. trade and unemployment-benefits data. Futures tied to the S&P 500 slipped 0.5%, signaling that four days of gains in the benchmark index may come to a halt after the New York opening bell. The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 edged down 0.5%, while the major Asian benchmarks ended the day on a mixed note. "I'm seeing a bit of profit-taking ahead of major events,"...

Global stocks faltered Thursday as investors digested a European monetary policy decision and awaited U.S. trade and unemployment-benefits data. Futures tied to the S&P 500 slipped 0.3%, signaling that four days of gains in the benchmark index may come to a halt after the New York opening bell. The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 edged down 0.2%, while the major Asian benchmarks ended the day on a mixed note. Investors are likely to be selling some assets to lock in gains after the recent...

Global stocks wavered Thursday as investors digested a European monetary policy decision and awaited U.S. trade and unemployment-benefits data. Futures tied to the S&P 500 slipped 0.3%, signaling that four days of gains in the benchmark index may come to a halt after the New York opening bell. The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 edged down 0.2%, while the major Asian benchmarks ended the day on a mixed note. Investors are likely to be selling some assets to lock in gains after the recent...