Major US stock indexes finished trading mostly in positive territory

Major US stock indices predominantly rose after a two-day sell-off, as strong quarterly results from Foot Locker and growth in the commodity sector improved investor sentiment and compensated for the fall in the utility sector.

In addition, investors analyzed the US data block. The final results of the research, presented by Thomson-Reuters and the Michigan Institute, showed that in November, American consumers felt more pessimistic about the economy than last month. According to the data, in November, the consumer sentiment index fell to 97.5 points compared with the final reading for October of 98.6 points and a preliminary value for November of 98.3 points. Experts predicted that the index will be 98.3 points.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors said that home sales in the secondary market increased by 1.4%, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.22 million units. Although the latter value was slightly higher than in September (5.15 million units), sales remained 5.1% lower than in October 2017, which is the sharpest 12-month decline since July 2014. Economists had expected home sales to grow to 5.2 million units in October.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in positive territory (16 of 30). The growth leader was NIKE, Inc. (NKE, + 1.93%). Johnson & Johnson (JNJ, -3.06%) was an outsider.

Almost all sectors of the S & P recorded an increase. The commodity sector grew the most (+ 2.0%). Decline shows only the utilities sector (-0.9%)