* Boeing (NYSE:BA), Caterpillar earnings disappoint
* New U.S.-China trade talks expected next week
* European stocks flat following weak PMIs
* Euro hits two-month low
(New throughout, updates prices, market activity and comments to U.S. afternoon trading)
By Stephen Culp
NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were mixed on Wednesday as a series of disappointing second-quarter results curbed investor optimism over a new round of U.S.-China trade talks next week, while the euro dropped to a two-month low, pressured by soft economic data.
Boeing Co BA.N and Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) CAT.N shares took a dive after their second-quarter earnings fell short of analyst expectations. The industrial bellwethers were the biggest drag on the blue chip Dow.
Boeing posted its biggest loss in a decade, owing to the grounding of its 737 MAX aircraft, while Caterpillar was challenged by weak China sales in the face of the trade war. are starting to hit profits for large multinational companies and are one reason global economic growth is softening," said David Carter, chief investment officer at Lenox Wealth Advisors in New York. "Thankfully, the Fed is aware of this and is likely to lower rates next week."
Investors had been heartened in recent days by hopes for trade negotiations and expectations the European Central Bank and the U.S. Federal Reserve will ease monetary policy.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI fell 116.76 points, or 0.43%, to 27,232.43, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 4.53 points, or 0.15%, to 3,010 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 32.02 points, or 0.39%, to 8,283.42.
A series of purchasing manager index (PMI) readings in the United States and Europe were weaker than expected, capping gains in equity markets worldwide.
"Economic growth in Europe continues to clearly slow," Carter added. "There's tremendous uncertainty in Europe and the ECB may be out of bullets."
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.05% and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS gained 0.13%.
PMI data showed euro zone manufacturing contracting for the sixth straight month, dragging the euro to a two-month low against the dollar. dollar index .DXY , tracking the greenback against six major currencies, fell 0.04%, with the euro EUR= down 0.08% to $1.1142.
Sterling GBP= was last trading at $1.2494, up 0.47% on the day, after falling for several sessions as market participants feared the looming possibility of a no-deal Brexit under Britain's new prime minister, Boris Johnson.
The Canadian dollar fell 0.04% versus the greenback at 1.31 per dollar.
"Throughout the world there's now a race to have the least expensive currency," said Carter. "This is one reason so many central banks are easing policy."
U.S. Treasuries yields fell in line with yield declines in European government debt after the downbeat economic data fueled expectations that the European Central Bank will cut interest rates. 10-year notes US10YT=RR last rose 7/32 in price to yield 2.0515%, from 2.074% late on Tuesday.
The 30-year bond US30YT=RR last rose 17/32 in price to yield 2.5828%, from 2.607% late on Tuesday.
Oil prices inched up in the face of a large decrease in U.S. crude stockpiles as investors fretted about global oil demand. crude CLcv1 rose 0.16% to $56.86 per barrel and Brent LCOcv1 was last at $64.21, up 0.6% on the day.
Spot gold XAU= added 0.4% to $1,422.97 an ounce but remained short of last week's peak of $1,452.60.
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