U.S. stocks wavered in midday trading on August 14 as falling consumer confidence and soft retail data offset recent record highs. The S&P 500 slipped 0.21% to 7,782.65, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.50% to 26,664.30, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.19% to 53,735.56. Reddit jumped 14% after news it will join the S&P 500, while Valneva surged 22% following earnings and European regulatory validation of its Lyme disease vaccine application. July retail sales fell for the first time in nine months, and the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index dropped to 51 from 55.2 in July, raising concerns about economic weakness despite the S&P 500 being on track for a third consecutive weekly gain.
