US stock indices opened the last session of the week lower, dragged down by finance and tech shares, following earlier data from the US, while the fourth-quarter earnings season carries on for major American banks and corporations.
Earlier US data showed housing starts rose 9.6% to 1.326 million in January, compared to a 6.9% drop to 1.209 million in December, beating expectations of a 3.5% rise to 1.234 million units.
Building permits rose 7.4% to 1.396 million, compared to a 0.2% dip to 1.300 million, while analysts expected a 0.7% dip to 1.290 million.
US import prices rose 1.0% in January, up from a 0.2% rise in December, and beating forecasts of 0.6%.
University of Michigan released its consumer sentiment survey for February, showing a rise to 99.9 from January's 95.7, beating expectations of a dip to 95.4.
The economic conditions gauge in the same survey rose to 115.1 from 110.5 in January, while economic outlook rose to 90.2 from 86.3.
As of 03:13 GMT, Standard and Poor's 500 fell 0.12%, or 3.40 points to 2,727.80, while Dow Jones shed 0.07%, or 17.59 points to 25,182.78.
Tech-heavy NASDAQ inched down 0.01%, or 0.78 points to 7,255.65.