Dow slips despite strong retail sales as September sluggishness continues; European markets close higher, breaking from cautious global sentiment; Continental down 5% 
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped Thursday despite better-than-expected August retail sales, as the latest weekly jobless claims report pointed to a mixed economic picture. The S&P 500 fell 0.2%. The Nasdaq Composite traded near the flatline. 
August retail sales surprised the market and rose 0.7% from the month prior, the Census Bureau reported Thursday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected a 0.8% month-over-month decline. 
However, the retail sales beat came after the initial estimate for July was revised down sharply from a month-over-month gain of 0.5% to a decline of 1.8%. 
On the upside, Moderna shares rose after the company released more data on breakthrough Covid cases that supports the push for the wide use of vaccine booster shots. 

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.5% by the close, with travel and leisure stocks adding 3% to lead the gains. Basic resources bucked the trend, slipping 2.5%. 
German car parts maker Continental plunged 6% after spinning off its powertrain unit Vitesco. 
Source: CNBC, Investing.com