On Tuesday, July 16th, U.S. stock markets closed higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting a record high after U.S. retail sales data suggested the Federal Reserve is nearing the end of its easing cycle, controlling inflation without causing a recession. In economic data, U.S. retail sales remained flat in June compared to a revised 0.3% increase in the previous month. Import prices were unchanged from the prior month, while export prices in the U.S. fell by 0.5% in June. Among the 11 major sectors in the S&P 500, industrials saw the highest percentage gains, while technology and communication services were the only two sectors to close in negative territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.53% and closed at 40,211.72. The S&P 500 gained 0.28%, ending the day at ...