Major US stock indexes finished trading above zero

Major US stock indices rose on Wednesday, as technology stocks pushed up the S & P 500 and Nasdaq, but the fall in Boeing (BA) shares limited the increase in the Dow index.

Investors also evaluated the minutes of the last meeting of the Federal Reserve System (Fed). The document said that the Fed leadership sees no reason to continue raising interest rates due to increased threats to the US economy from the slowdown in the global economy and unexpectedly weak inflation data. “Most participants expect that the evolution of economic prospects and the risks threatening these prospects will most likely justify keeping the target range of interest rates unchanged until the end of the year,” the protocols say. At the same time, the Fed management does not see the need to lower the key rate in the absence of signs of a more significant deterioration in the economic situation. At the same time, the Fed leaders noted that their understanding of the appropriate level of rates "may change in any direction depending on transient data and other events. "

It is worth noting that today the European Central Bank (ECB) announced a decision to leave its key rates unchanged, as expected, and stated that rates will remain at current levels at least until the end of 2019. ECB President Draghi once again acknowledged the downside risks to the economy. The ECB’s decision on Mr. Draghi’s comments did not become something new for investors, but the dovish policy is favorable for the stock market.

Market participants also analyzed the March data on inflation in the United States. The report of the Ministry of Labor showed that the consumer price index rose by 0.4%, which was facilitated by the rising cost of food, gasoline and rents. This was the largest increase since January 2018, and growth in February was 0.2%. In annual terms, the consumer price index rose in March by 1.9% after rising by 1.5% in February, which was the smallest increase since September 2016. Economists had forecast a rise in the consumer price index of 0.3% in March and a rise of 1.8% year on year. At the same time, excluding prices for food and energy, the consumer price index rose by 0.1%, which corresponds to an increase in February. In the 12 months to March, the base consumer price index increased by 2.0%, the smallest increase since February 2018. The core consumer price index rose 2.1% year on year in February.

In addition, investors continue to prepare for the quarterly reporting season, which may be the first to show the annual reduction in corporate segment profits from 2016. The season of corporate reporting for the first quarter of 2019 starts this Friday with the publication of the results of the largest banks.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in positive territory (16 of 30). The growth leader was The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS; + 1.15%). The Boeing Co. shares turned out to be an outsider. (BA; -1.33%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P recorded an increase. The technological sector grew the most (+ 0.6%). The decrease was shown only by the utility sector (-0.1%).

At the time of closing:

Dow 26,157.16 +6.58 +0.03%

S & P 500 2,888.21 +10.01 +0.35%

Nasdaq 100 7,964.24 +54.97 +0.69%