DJIA up 8.79 points (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - New York, 18 Jun - US shares were trading higher after retail sales data came in weaker than expected. Markets will be closed tomorrow for the Juneteenth holiday.

The latest reading showed a further slowdown in sales as higher prices and interest rates take their toll on consumers' pockets. Retail sales in May grew 0.1% from the previous month, below expectations for a 0.3% increase.

Analysts are concerned a slowdown in consumer spending, a significant contributor to US GDP growth, could trigger a significant downturn for the economy.

Elsewhere, industrial production data for April rose 0.9% to beat expectations.

Investors will now turn their attention to commentary from a slew of Fed policymakers scheduled to speak during the day for clues on where interest rates may be heading. Speakers include voting committee members Thomas Barkin and Adriana Kugler, as well as Susan Collins, Austan Goolsbee, Lorie Logan, and Alberto Musalem.

Interest rates continue to be the market's main focus of interest after the Federal Reserve indicated there would probably be just one rate cut this year, instead of a previously signalled three, as inflation continues to come down only slowly.

On the stocks front, shares in home builder Lennar were down more than 4.4% after it provided a disappointing outlook while NextEra Energy was down 3.4% extending yesterday's losses after announcing a sale of 2 billion dollar equity units at 50 dollars.

At 1827 GMT, the Dow Jones was gaining 8.79 points, or 0.02%, at 38,786.89 points.

The S&P 500 was 11.24 points, or 0.21%, higher at 5,484.47 points.

The Nasdaq was up 14.67 points, or 0.09%, at 17,872.13 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 18-06-24 19:31:55 (0692) 5 NNNN