Global stock markets drifted lower Wednesday as investors awaited confirmation of new stimulus from the European Central Bank and a crucial U.S. jobs report, AP reported. In early European trading, Germany's DAX shed 0.3 percent to 9,890.55 and France's CAC 40 was down 0.6 percent to 4,478.19. London's FTSE 100 slipped 0.4 percent to 6,811.71. Dow futures slipped 0.1 percent to 16,704.00 and S&P 500 futures were down 0.2 percent to 1,918. Japan's Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2 percent to 15,067.96 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.6 percent to 23,151.71. The Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.7 percent to 2,024.83 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.6 percent to 5,444.80. Markets in Southeast Asia and India were also down while South Korean markets were closed for regional elections. In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude for July delivery was up 55 cents to $103.21 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 19 cents to close Tuesday $102.66. The euro slipped to $1.3603 from $1.3620 late Tuesday. The dollar rose to 102.62 yen from 102.54 yen.
