Wall Street opens slightly lower

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.