World shares are mixed after Dow hits a new record, as some AI shares bounce back

Global shares were mixed on Thursday as investors weighed a fresh record for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a rebound in some AI and chip stocks, and thin holiday trading ahead of the U.S. Independence Day closure.

U.S. markets were shut on Friday, July 3, 2026, for the observed July 4 holiday, leaving overseas trading to set much of the tone for the session. The New York Stock Exchange calendar lists that day as the observed Independence Day holiday.

The day before, the Dow closed at another record. Futures pointed to a mixed start in the U.S. before the holiday break, with S&P 500 futures higher and Dow futures lower.

Asia and Europe

In Europe, Germany's DAX rose, while France's CAC 40 and Britain's FTSE 100 both slipped.

Asia was mixed as well, but South Korea stood out. The Kospi rebounded sharply after a steep drop in the previous session, lifted by a surge in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Japan's Nikkei 225 also advanced, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng and the Shanghai Composite posted smaller gains.

The South Korea move mattered because recent pressure in AI and chip names had been a major driver of market swings. The rebound suggested investors were still willing to buy the sector even after a sharp selloff.

Jobs data and Fed expectations

The market backdrop also included a weaker-than-expected U.S. labor report released on July 2. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the economy added 57,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%.

That report helped shape expectations for Federal Reserve policy and added to the market's split tone: slower hiring can reduce pressure on the Fed, but it also underscores a softer growth backdrop.

What to watch next

The immediate question is whether the South Korea rebound carries over into U.S. chip and AI shares when Wall Street reopens on Monday.

Investors will also watch Treasury yields and Fed-rate expectations for any reaction to the June jobs report, along with whether the Dow's record and the holiday-thinned session continue to offset weakness in parts of technology.