Major US stock indexes finished trading in the red

Major US stock indices fell moderately, as investors fixed profits after a strong rally this year, and expected new reports on trade negotiations between the US and China.

Three sources told CNBC that President Donald Trump wants the US and China to conclude a deal, hoping that this will push up the stock market ahead of the 2020 election. Sources reported that Trump believes that the conclusion of a trade transaction will lead to this.

The focus of market participants were also several macroeconomic reports. The report of the Ministry of Commerce showed that the US trade deficit increased to $ 59.8 billion in December from a revised $ 50.3 billion in November, as exports showed a decline for the third consecutive month, while imports resumed growth. This was the largest trade deficit since October 2008. Economists had forecast a deficit to increase to $ 57.9 billion from $ 49.3 billion, which was reported in the previous month. At the end of 2018, the US trade deficit amounted to $ 621.0 billion - the maximum value since 2008.

Meanwhile, a report submitted by ADP showed that growth in the number of jobs in the US private sector slowed down in February after a sharp jump in January. According to the data, employment in the private sector increased by 183,000 jobs in February, after rising by 300,000 jobs in January. Economists had expected employment to grow by 189,000 jobs, compared with the addition of the 213,000 jobs previously reported in the previous month.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in the red (21 out of 30). Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA; -3.51%) was an outsider. The growth leader was DowDuPont Inc. (DWDP; + 1.59%).

All sectors of the S & P recorded a decline. The largest decline was shown by the health sector (-1.6%).

At the time of closing:

Dow 25,673.46 -133.17 -0.52%

S & P 500 2,771.45 -18.20 -0.65%

Nasdaq 100 7,505.92 -70.44 -0.93%