U.S. stocks recovered from most of the losses suffered in morning trading, leaving the WWD Global Stock Tracker virtually unchanged.
The tracker, a compilation of 100 equities involved in fashion, retail and beauty around the world, ended the day at 99.87, down less than 0.1 percent. In September, tracker stocks were down 0.06 percent from the 100.51 mark at which they ended August.
U.S. stocks started the day higher before pulling back on word that The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell to 86 from 93.4 in August with anxiety about the jobs picture ending a four-month streak of increases. A smaller-than-expected increase in home prices also restrained investor buoyancy.
Without a dramatic change in the situation in Hong Kong, where pro-democracy demonstrators remained in a standoff with police, the city’s Hang Seng Index pulled back 1.3 percent to 22,932.98. In Shanghai, where coverage of the protesters has been limited, the SSE Composite Index rose 0.3 percent to 2,363.87.
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Anta Sports Products Ltd. recorded the largest gain for the day among tracker stocks, adding 5.9 percent to close at 15.82 Hong Kong dollars, or $2.04 at current exchange. Luxottica Group SpA followed with a gain of less than half that size, a 2.7 percent advance to 41.26 euros, or $52.34. American Apparel Inc. shares gained 2.5 percent to 82 cents on the second day of Scott Brubaker’s term as interim chief executive officer. Yoox.com shares rose 2.2 percent to 18.18 euros, or $23.06, and J.C. Penney Co. Inc.’s stock rose 1.7 percent to $10.04.
Quiksilver Inc. posted the largest decline among tracker stocks, giving back 6.5 percent to close at $1.72, while Esprit Holdings Ltd. shed 5.6 percent to end the day at 10.04 Hong Kong dollars, or $1.29. Next plc shares dropped 3.9 percent to 66.10 pounds, or $107.36, while Oxford Industries Inc. and Dillard’s Inc. retreated 3.2 and 3.1 percent, respectively, to end trading at $60.99 and $108.98.