(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 16 mag - US share prices were flat to higher in mid-morning trade, as investors assessed a disappointing consumer sentiment report.

US consumer sentiment fell to 50.8 in May from 52.2 the previous month, according to preliminary data from the University of Michigan. Expectations were for a reading of 53.1.

The market has staged a strong recovery since Washington and Beijing announced a 90-day ceasefire in their trade war, reducing tariffs and fueling hopes of a compromise deal on trade. Earlier today president Donald Trump said the US would set tariff rates for its trading partners within the next few weeks.

Softer-than-expected inflation reports this week helped calm nerves on prices however investors remain concerned about the impact of tariffs on the economy.

US housing starts in April rose 1.6% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 1,361,000 from the revised March estimate of 1,339,000, and were 1.7% below the April 2024 rate of 1,385,000, the US Census Bureau and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development said. Expectations were for housing starts of 1.36 million.

On the stocks front, shares in Danish pharmaceutical group Novo Nordisk were down 3.87% at 63.58 dollars after the group said that its chief executive officer Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen is stepping down after eight years in the job.

Shares in US telecommunications and media group Charter Communications were up 1.6% at 426.25 dollars after the group and its peer Cox Communications said that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement.

At 15:10 GMT, the DJIA was up 0.12%, or 49.00 points, the S&P 500 was up 6.50 points, or 0.11%, while the Nasdaq was down.

7.23 points, or 0.03%.

(RADIOCOR) 16-05-25 17:13:32 (0506) 5 NNNN