Major US stock indexes finished trading in different directions

Major US stock markets closed mixed, as the technology and healthcare growth could not compensate for the drop in shares of conglomerates sector. Investors were also evaluated a variety of economic data, including the ADP report on the number of jobs.

As it became known, the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits fell sharply last week to one of the lowest levels in the past four decades, reinforcing the view the Federal Reserve that the labor market is strengthening. The number of initial claims for unemployment benefits, a measure of how many workers were laid off, and fell by 28,000 to a seasonally adjusted reached 235,000 for the week ended December 31, reported Thursday the Ministry of Labour. It was the lowest level since mid-November, and the second lowest level since the end of 1973. Economists had expected 260,000 initial claims.

In addition, data for December showed a steady rise in business activity and new orders in the US services sector. Large workloads, and increased confidence in business prospects, in turn, contributed to a rapid increase in jobs since September 2015. The seasonally adjusted final index of business activity in the US services sector from Markit fell to 53.9 in December from 54.6 in November, and signaled the slowest growth in activity in the services sector for three months. Nevertheless, the last reading was significantly above the neutral level of 50.0, and pointed to solid growth.

However, the index of business activity in the US service sector, which is calculated by the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), remained unchanged at 57.2 in December. According to the forecast, the rate was expected to decline to 56.6. Recall, the indicator is the result of a survey of about 400 companies from 60 sectors across the United States.

DOW index closed mixed components (15 black, 15 red). Most remaining shares rose Visa Inc. (V, + 1.27%). Outsider were shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV, -1.69%).

Sector S & P index closed trading mixed. The leader turned out to be the health sector (+ 0.7%). conglomerates (-1.7%) sectors fell most.

At the close:

Dow -0.22% 19,899.22 -42.94

Nasdaq + 0.20% 5,487.94 +10.93

S & P -0.08% 2,269.01 -1.74