Markets Negative As Trade Deficit Sets Record

The markets turned negative during the midday as record oil prices lifted the trade deficit to a new high for the summer quarter. The Dow slipped 2 points to 12,444 while Nasdaq lost 8 points to 2450. S&P 500 eased 2 points to 1425. The 30-year bond inched up a the yield edged down to 4.709%.