The main US stock indexes finished trading mostly in positive territory

The main US stock indexes mainly increased, as the rise in the price of shares in the consumer goods and technology sector made it possible to compensate for the collapse of the shares in the health sector.

The focus was also on the United States. As it became known, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week increased less than expected, indicating that the labor market continues to toughen after recent hurricane-related disruptions. Initial applications for unemployment benefits increased by 10,000 to 233,000, seasonally adjusted for the week to October 21, the Ministry of Labor said. The latter value was the lowest since March 1973. The four-week moving average of primary hits fell 9,000 to 239,500 last week.

At the same time, the number of contracts for the purchase of housing on the secondary market did not change in September, while activity in annual terms decreased for the fifth time in the last six months, as demand for real estate still exceeded supply. The National Association of Realtors said its forecast domestic sales index, based on contracts signed last month, remained at 106.0. The August index was revised to -2.8 percent from -2.6 percent. Economists predicted that unfinished transactions for the sale of housing last month increased by 0.2 percent.

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in positive territory (24 out of 30). Leader of the growth were shares of NIKE, Inc. (NKE, + 3.31%). Outsider were shares of 3M Company (MMM, -2.02%).

Most sectors of the S & P index recorded an increase. The consumer goods sector grew most (+ 0.7%). The health sector showed the greatest decline (-1.0%).

At closing:

DJIA + 0.31% 23,400.86 +71.40

Nasdaq -0.11% 6,556.77 -7.12

S & P + 0.13% 2.560.40 +3.25