Major US stock indexes ended the session in different directions

The main stock indexes of the United States completed the session mixed. The Dow industrial index declined amid fears of a global trade war after President Donald Trump's promise to introduce import tariffs for steel and aluminum. Pressure on the index also had a fall in the shares of McDonald's Corporation (MCD) after lowering the target value of its shares. At the same time, the indices of Nasdaq and S & P 500 moderately increased, partly contributed to the US data.

The final results of the studies, submitted by Thomson-Reuters and the Michigan Institute, showed that in February US consumers felt more optimistic about the economy than last month. According to the data, in February the consumer sentiment index rose to 99.7 points compared with the final reading for January 95.7 points and the preliminary value for February 99.9 points. It was predicted that the index will be 99.5 points. In addition, the results of the research presented in the report showed: the index of current conditions in February rose to 114.9 from 110.5 in January, the index of expectations improved to 90.0 from 86.3, the index of 12-month inflation expectations was +2.7 %, as in January, while the index of 5-year inflation expectations remained at the level of + 2.5%.

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in the red (18 out of 30). The leader of growth was shares of Intel Corporation (INTC, + 2.38%). Outsider were shares of McDonald's Corporation (MCD, -4.77%).

Almost all sectors of S & P recorded a rise. The conglomerate sector grew most (+ 1.4%). The decrease was shown only by the utilities sector (-0.1%).

At closing:

Dow -0.29% 24.538.06 -70.92

Nasdaq + 1.08% 7.257.87 +77.31

S & P + 0.51% 2,691.25 +13.58