Markets mixed as German industrial production falls

Markets were mixed on Wednesday.

The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1 percent and the Nikkei 225 fell 0.4 percent but the STOXX Europe 600 rose 0.3 percent.

The European Central Bank meets on monetary policy on Thursday. Despite Germany reporting on Wednesday that its industrial production fell 1.5 percent in July, the most in almost two years, analysts had low expectations for action from the ECB.

“There’s every indication they should ease further, but no indication they will at this point,” said Megan Greene, chief economist at Manulife Asset Management.