TOKYO—World shares were mixed on Wednesday after heavy selling of technology shares cast a chill over the cheerful start to 2022 on Wall Street. France’s CAC 40 was up less than 0.1 percent at 7,324.16 in early trading, while Germany’s DAX added 0.2 percent to 16,185.77. Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.2 percent to 7,516.63. The future contract for the Dow industrials gained 0.1 percent while that for the S&P 500 slipped 2 points. Added to the hangover from the tech-led retreat were reports of sharply rising coronavirus caseloads in Asia and elsewhere. Expert opinion is divided among those who think the omicron variant of COVID-19 that is gaining dominance in many places may set off fewer serious illnesses and those who advise more caution. Any restrictions on business activity will be sure to weigh on the recovery that all nations are counting on to happen soon. “Global markets seem to …