Stock market today: Global shares slip ahead of earnings

Global shares are mostly declining as investors take a wait-and-see attitude stance of earnings reports and possible moves by central banks. Shares fell in France, Germany and Britain, while U.S. futures also fell. Inflation in the UK was at a high 10.1% in March, foiling hopes that it might soften. In Asia, benchmarks finished lower in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai, but rose moderately in Sydney and Seoul. News that China’s economic growth accelerated in the latest quarter, to 4.5%, has not had much of an impact on share prices. While consumption and retail sales have grown, other indicators, such as industrial output and fixed-asset investments, were weaker and indicate an uneven recovery.