London — World stocks fell on Tuesday as investors digested soft Chinese economic data and a lack of progress in US-China trade talks, while a rise in US borrowing costs supported the dollar. MSCI’s world equity index, which tracks shares in 47 countries, was down 0.3%. Europe’s benchmark Stoxx 600 was 0.1% lower while Germany’s DAX 30 shed 0.2% as first-quarter economic growth in the country came in lower than expected. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.8%. China reported weaker-than-expected investment and retail sales in April and a drop in home sales, clouding its economic outlook even as policy makers try to navigate debt risks and defuse a heated trade row with the US. Mixed messages in US-China trade talks also weighed on sentiment. The two countries are still "very far apart" on resolving trade frictions, US ambassador to China Terry Branstad said on Tuesday, as a second round of high-level talks was set to begin in Washington. US President Do...
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