By Chuck Mikolajczak and Herbert Lash
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A gauge of world stock markets was flat on Wednesday as U.S. data that raised concerns about a slowing economy was offset by a solid start to earnings season, while sterling was volatile as negotiations on a Brexit deal continued.
European stocks pulled back slightly from their strongest closing high in more than a year as clashing headlines on Britain's last-minute efforts to forge a divorce deal with the European Union left investors hanging on the outcome.
On Wall Street, stocks retreated after monthly retail sales data for September showed a decline for the first time in seven months, raising concerns that softness in the manufacturing sector was starting to spread to the broader economy.
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe <.MIWD00000PUS> traded at break-even.
"Retail sales were definitely on the weaker side and given that the consumer is one of the key pillars holding up the U.S. economy, any weakness in consumer indicators is obviously a sign of concern," said Ellen Hazen, portfolio manager F.L. Putnam in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Data later in the session showed U.S. business inventories were unexpectedly flat in August, which suggested inventory investment could also drag on third-quarter economic growth.
Concerns about the trade dispute between the United States and China also weighed. The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation related to pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, prompting China to warn in response that bilateral relations would be damaged if the measures became law.
Losses were offset by a solid start to earnings season. Bank of America
Earnings for S&P 500 companies are expected to show a decline of 3% for the quarter, according to Refinitiv data, down from 5.1% growth expected at the start of the year. Excluding energy, the growth rate is a negative 0.7%.
"They legitimately are coming in better than expected so far, not by leaps and bounds, but incrementally, yes they are. This is not just expectations having been set really low, at least from the earnings estimate standpoint," said Hazen.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average <.DJI> fell 22.82 points, or 0.08%, to 27,001.98. The S&P 500 <.SPX> lost 5.99 points, or 0.20%, to 2,989.69 and the Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> dropped 24.52 points, or 0.3%, to 8,124.18.
Sterling
GRAPHIC: European Q3 earnings - https://tmsnrt.rs/33yhkBj
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday a deal with Britain on its departure from the European Union was being finalized and could potentially be agreed on at Thursday's summit.
The pound had strengthened by more than 5% over the past five sessions as investors rushed to reprice the prospect of a deal being agreed before Britain's scheduled departure date of Oct. 31.
Sterling
The dollar index <.DXY> fell 0.28%, with the euro
GRAPHIC: Global assets in 2019 - http://tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl
The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note
Hopes of a Brexit breakthrough took the pan-European STOXX 600 <.STOXX> to its highest close since May 2018 on Tuesday, but the index closed down 0.1%. London's exporter-laden FTSE 100<.FTSE>, which tends to fall when the pound gains, lagged themost of regional indices with a 0.6% decline.
Germany's DAX <.GDAXI> edged up 0.3% while the pan-regional FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> of leading companies slid 0.08%.
Companies listed on the STOXX 600 <.STOXX> index are now expected to report a decline in third-quarter earnings of as much as 3.7%, worse than the 3% expected a week ago, according to Refinitiv data through Tuesday.
GRAPHIC: Global currencies vs. dollar - http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
In commodities, oil rose about 1% on a weaker dollar and due to signs the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers will continue to curb supplies in December.
Brent crude
In emerging markets, Turkey's Halkbank
Gold rose on concerns Washington's stance on Hong Kong could hamper trade negotiations.
U.S. gold futures
GRAPHIC: MSCI All Country Wolrd Index Market Cap - http://tmsnrt.rs/2EmTD6j
(Reporting by Herbert Lash; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)