NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. stocks are following European markets lower Thursday as a deadline approaches in Greece’s debt talks. Greece remained stuck in talks with its creditors about releasing more emergency funds ahead of a debt payment due Friday.
KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average slid 24 points, or 0.1 percent, to 18,061 as of 10 a.m. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost two points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,112. The Nasdaq composite declined two points, a sliver of a percent, to 5,098.
MERGER TALKS: A report that Dish Networks is talking to T-Mobile US about a possible merger sent both companies’ stocks up in early trading. The Wall Street Journal said that the two sides have yet to nail down crucial details, including a purchase price. Dish’s stock jumped $4.53, or 6 percent, to $75.34, while T-Mobile’s leapt $2.07, or 5 percent, to $40.38.
JAMMED: Before the market opened, J.M. Smucker reported a loss in its latest quarter even though sales climbed. Smucker’s stock fell $4.19, or 4 percent, to $114.05.
EUROPE: In Europe, Germany’s DAX the CAC-40 in France each fell 0.2 percent. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was 0.9 percent lower, while the Athens stock exchange was trading 1.3 percent lower.