Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: stock news — 31-01-2018.

The main US stock indices grew moderately, helped by the Boeing rally after the publication of the quarterly report, as well as positive data on the US, and the results of the Fed meeting.

The ADP report showed that employment growth in the US private sector slowed in January, but was stronger than projected. According to the report, in January the number of employed increased by 234 thousand people compared with the figure for December at 242 thousand. It was expected that the number of employed will increase by 185 thousand.

In addition, Chicago Purchasing Managers Index fell 2.1 points to 65.7 in January from a revised 67.8 points in December. Despite the fact that in January it lost momentum, the index continued to move in the same direction as in the second half of 2017, which contributes to an encouraging new year. The index has grown by 28.3% since January last year and at the level of 65.7 exceeds the average of the second half of 2017, equal to 63.7.

Contracts for the purchase of previously owned homes in the United States rose for the third consecutive month in December, helped by a healthy labor market. The National Association of Realtors said that its index of unfinished transactions for the sale of housing rose to 110.1 points last month, which is 0.5% more than in November. Economists predicted that the index will increase by 0.4%, following an increase of 0.3% in the previous month (revised from + 0.2%).

As for the Fed meeting, it was decided to leave interest rates unchanged. At the same time, the Fed indicated that it intends to continue the gradual tightening of monetary policy in order to stimulate economic growth. In general, the rhetoric of the statement remained largely unchanged compared to December, indicating a still positive assessment of the prospects for the US economy. It should be noted that this meeting was the last for Fed Chairman Yellen, whose powers expire on Saturday. The new head of the Federal Reserve will be Powell

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in positive territory (17 out of 30). The leader of growth was the shares of The Boeing Company (BA, + 5.31%). Outsider were shares of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ, -2.43%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P index recorded an increase. The utilities sector grew most (+ 0.9%). Decrease showed only the health sector (-1.1%).

At closing:

DJIA + 0.28% 26.150.80 +73.91

Nasdaq + 0.12% 7,411.48 +9.00

S & P + 0.05% 2,823.93 +1.50

U.S. stock-index futures rose on Wednesday, after two days of sharp declines, boosted by a controversy-free State of Union speech by the U.S. President Donald Trump, with investors turning their focus back to the Fed's monetary policy and corporate segment's quarterly results.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 23,098.29 -193.68 -0.83%

Hang Seng 32,887.27 +279.98 +0.86%

Shanghai 3,481.51 -6.50 -0.19%

S&P/ASX 6,037.70 +14.90 +0.25%

FTSE 7,580.65 -7.33 -0.10%

CAC 5,494.16 +20.38 +0.37%

DAX 13,228.74 +31.03 +0.24%

Crude $64.19 (-0.48%)

Gold $1,343.60 (+0.61%)

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

McDonald's (MCD) target raised to $190 from $180 at Telsey Advisory Group

Apple (AAPL) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at BMO Capital

Boeing (BA) reported Q4 FY 2017 earnings of $3.04 per share (versus $2.47 in Q4 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $2.88.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $25.368 bln (+8.9% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $24.780 bln.

The company also issued upside guidance for FY 2018, projecting EPS of $13.80-14.00 (versus analysts' consensus estimate of $11.90) at revenues of $96-98 bln (versus analysts' consensus estimate of $93.6 bln).

BA rose to $355.00 (+5.12%) in pre-market trading.

Asia-Pacific shares broadly turned around early declines as President Donald Trump struck a mostly conciliatory tone in his first State of the Union address. After some of the biggest declines in several months Tuesday, indexes in Australia XJO, +0.34% , Hong Kong and South Korea SEU, +0.94% turned higher, gaining as much as much as 0.5%.

European stocks fell Tuesday, tracking losses across global markets, as investors grew increasingly concerned about a sharp rise in U.S. bond yields and its impact on the cost of borrowing. Heavily-weighted oil companies led the decliners, as crude-oil prices came under pressure.

U.S. stocks sold off for a second straight session on Tuesday, with the Dow suffering its biggest one-day drop in eight months, as heavy losses in health-care and energy shares weighed on the main indexes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down as much as 400 points after Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase announced they would partner in an effort to cut health-care costs and improve services for U.S. employees.