(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 16 gen - US shares were trading lower at midday as US president Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on countries if 'they don't go along with Greenland.' "I may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security," Trump said at the White House, according to AFP.

Concern over threats to the Federal Reserve's independence also weighed following the criminal investigation launched into the central bank's chair Jerome Powell relating to renovation work at the bank's headquarters.

Since taking office last year president Trump has repeatedly called on the Fed to lower interest rates significantly to help boost economic growth.

On the data front, US builder confidence for newly built, single-family homes fell to 37 in January from 39 in December, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo housing market index. The reading was below expectations for the index to rise to 40.

At 1622 GMT, the Dow Jones was down 103.82 points, or 0.21%, at 49,338.62 points.

The S&P 500 was 5.80 points, or 0.08%, lower at 6,938.67 points.

The Nasdaq was losing 24.21 points, or 0.10%, at 23,505.82.

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(RADIOCOR) 16-01-26 17:24:09 (0473) 5 NNNN