US stocks flat amid trade tensions and emerging market turmoil

Markets were mostly lower on Friday.

The S&P 500 was flat but the STOXX Europe 600 fell 0.8 percent while the Hang Seng led Asian markets down with a 1 percent decline.

While trade tensions continued on Friday, renewed turmoil in emerging markets also caused concern.

While the US stock market may have benefitted from its safe haven status, Mark DeCambre at MarketWatch noted that US stocks and volatility have been moving in lockstep lately, and that could be an ominous sign.