Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 20-07-2017.

Major US stock indexes finished the session almost unchanged, which was due to the fall of the industrial goods sector and the disappointing returns of some large companies.

As the report presented by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia showed, the index of business activity in the production sector fell in June, reaching a level of 19.5 points compared to 27.6 points in June. Economists had expected a decline to 24 points. The index is the results of a survey of manufacturers in Philadelphia for their attitude to the current economic situation. The indicator is published a little earlier than the index of purchasing managers ISM and can give an idea of ​​what the indicator of business activity at the national level will be. The values ​​of the index above zero indicate an expansion in the industry, below zero the reduction.

In addition, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits declined in mid-July and fluctuated at almost 44-year low, reflecting the healthiest labor market in the last ten years. Initial applications for unemployment benefits in the period from July 9 to July 15 fell by 15,000 to 233,000, taking into account seasonal fluctuations, the report of the Ministry of Labor said on Thursday. This corresponds to the second level since the recession of 2007-09.

Most components of the DOW index recorded a rise (17 out of 30). Leader of the growth were shares of NIKE, Inc. (NKE, + 2.27%). Outsider was the shares of The Home Depot, Inc. (HD, -4.01%).

Most sectors of S & P completed the auction in positive territory. The healthcare sector grew most (+ 0.8%). The largest decrease was registered in the sector of industrial goods (-0.5%).

At closing:

DJIA -0.11% 21.616.44 -24.31

Nasdaq + 0.08% 6,390.00 +4.96

S & P -0.00% 2,473.76 -0.07

U.S. stock-index futures rose slightly as investors focused on latest data from the U.S. labour market, Q2 earnings reports and the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan's decisions to leave their policies unchanged.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 20,144.59 +123.73 +0.62%

Hang Seng 26,740.21 +68.05 +0.26%

Shanghai 26,740.21 +68.05 +0.26%

S&P/ASX 5,761.45 +29.33 +0.51%

FTSE 7,482.56 +51.65 +0.70%

CAC 5,220.64 +4.57 +0.09%

DAX 12,509.52 +57.47 +0.46%

Crude $47.63 (+0.66%)

Gold $1,237.80 (-0.34%)

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

Tesla (TSLA) initiated with a Neutral at Citigroup; target $357

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) resumed with a Outperform at Credit Suisse; target $148

Pfizer (PFE) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse

NIKE (NKE) upgraded Overweight from Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley; target $68

HP (HPQ) upgraded to Outperform at RBC Capital Mkts; target raised to $22 from $21

Travelers (TRV) reported Q2 FY 2017 earnings of $1.92 per share (versus $2.20 in Q2 FY 2016), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $2.14.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $6.351 bln (+4.7% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $6.314 bln.

TRV fell to $124.50 (-1.55%).in pre-market trading.

American Express (AXP) reported Q2 FY 2017 earnings of $1.47 per share (versus $2.10 in Q2 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.44.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $8.307 bln (+0.9% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $8.205 bln.

The company also reaffirmed guidance for FY 2017, projecting EPS of $5.60-5.80 analysts' consensus estimate of $5.70.

AXP fell to $84.90 (-1.2%) in pre-market trading.

Alcoa (AA) reported Q2 FY 2017 earnings of $0.62 per share (versus $0.15 in Q2 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.58.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $2.859 bln (+23.1% y/y), slightly missing analysts' consensus estimate of $2.879 bln.

AA fell to $35.70 (-2.19%) in pre-market trading.

Equity markets in Asia extended overnight gains in the U.S. early Thursday, lifted by expectations of upbeat earnings reports and higher oil prices, though investor caution over central-bank action has capped the upside. Investors were awaiting central-bank decisions by the Bank of Japan - which maintained its monetary policy Thursday and pushed back its inflation goal - and the European Central Bank, due later in the day. While the banks were widely expected to stand pat, the focus now is on any fresh guidance from the ECB toward tighter monetary policy.

European stocks finished with solid gains Wednesday, carried by well-received corporate earnings reports including from Swedish appliance maker Electrolux AB, while a more than $4 billion deal drew Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC shares higher .

U.S. stock-index gauges on Wednesday carved out fresh all-time highs, with the Dow joining the S&P 500 and Nasdaq at records. Better-than-expected results from Morgan Stanley helped to reaffirm optimism about the current economy and earnings season-factors crucial to supporting current levels considered lofty.