Wall Street edges back from records after Dow briefly tops 40,000

Asian shares fell following a retreat in U.S. markets from record highs, with the Dow briefly surpassing 40,000. This downturn was influenced by a mix of economic signals, including persistent weakness in China's real estate sector and disappointing U.S. homebuilder reports. Meanwhile, Wall Street experienced declines despite strong earnings from companies like Walmart, which hinted at potential economic resilience.