Stock market today: Asian shares meander after S&P 500 sets another record

Asian shares have opened mixed after U.S. stocks broke out of a three-day lull to close at a record. Chinese markets rose and Tokyo's benchmark fell. Oil prices advanced, while U.S. futures edged lower. The S&P 500 added 0.9% Wednesday, beating the all-time high it set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.5%. The Dow and Nasdaq closed just short of their own records. Merck helped push the market higher after winning federal approval for its treatment for a rare disease affecting blood vessels. Trump Media & Technology Group jumped again in its second day of trading.