(Reuters) – The New York Stock Exchange opened up on Wednesday while investors have their eyes fixed on the latest news concerning American customs duties.

In the first exchanges, the Dow Jones index earns 188.82 points, or 0.43%, at 44,429.58 points and the Standard & Poor’s 500, wider, increased from 0.40% to 6,250.40 points.

The Nasdaq Composite takes 0.56%, or 113.97 points, at 20,532.44 points.

American trade policy continues to be at the center of attentions. President Donald Trump said on social networks that there would be announcements on Wednesday concerning “a minimum of 7 countries related to trade”, without specifying if they will be agreements or letters notifying customs duties imposed on a country.

He also formalized Tuesday the implementation of customs duties of 50% on copper imports in the United States, which should be effective in late July or early August and threatened to set up customs duties in the order of 200% on the imports of drugs in the United States, explaining that he would leave companies for a year to “take charge”.

“The markets have been used to the way Trump is negotiating, that is to say that he is first very aggressive and then we end up at a much lower level,” said Ross Bramwell, investment strategist at Homrich Berg.

In addition, investors will carefully look at the minutes of the last meeting of the American Federal Reserve (Fed) expected this evening.

At the values, Merck advances 3.18% and Verona Pharma gained 20.73% after the two companies said Merck would buy the British company for around $ 10 billion.

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals advances 27.55% after declaring Wednesday that his experimental medication intended to treat a rare form of obesity had helped patients to lose weight as part of a small trial.

* For the values ​​to follow, click on [L8N3T60HO]

(Written by Mara Vilcu, edited by Kate Entringer)

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