Some benchmarks, like the Hang Seng in Hong Kong which has suffered from troubles in China’s property sector and U.S.-Chinese friction, have languished.
On Thursday, the S&P 500 index slipped 0.3% a day after notching a record high, closing at 4,778.73.
The S&P 500 is headed for a gain of more than 27% for 2021, the best performance since 2019, another standout year.
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell below 200,000, more evidence that the job market remains strong in the aftermath of last year’s coronavirus recession.