(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 20 gen - US shares were trading broadly lower at midday to kick off a holiday-shortened week as renewed trade war jitters soured sentiment.

Wall Street was closed yesterday for a national holiday.

Threats by president Donald Trump that he would ratchet up tariffs against countries opposing his plans to take over Greenland spooked the market, pressuring stocks and sending treasury yields to their highest level since September.

Trump is expected to meet European leaders on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to discuss the impasse ahead of a speech scheduled for tomorrow at Davos.

EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said today the bloc would be "unflinching, united, and proportional" in its response but gave no details.

Investors meanwhile are monitoring the US Supreme Court where judges today are expected to pronounce a series of rulings that may include a critical decision on the legality of Trump's 'reciprocal' trade tariffs.

At 1620 GMT, the Dow Jones was down 596.10 points, or 1.21%, at 48,763.23 points.

The S&P 500 was 84.45 points, or 1.22%, lower at 6,855.56 points.

The Nasdaq was losing 311.25 points, or 1.32%, at 23,202.05.

points.

(RADIOCOR) 20-01-26 17:21:15 (0543) 5 NNNN