Major US stock indexes finished trading above zero

Major stock indexes on Wall Street rose on Thursday, and Nasdaq Composite touched a three-week high against the background of the good results of the quarterly reports from companies such as Citigroup (C), eBay (EBAY) and Netflix (NFLX). Netflix grew by 17.94% to a record high of $ 115.73, a day after the company reported that nearly a third added more subscribers than expected in the second quarter.

Investor sentiment also improved after the Greek Parliament voted in favor of the austerity measures.

As it became known today, the number of Americans who first applied for unemployment benefits fell for the first time in three weeks. This is a sign of a healthy labor market. Primary applications for unemployment benefits, the gauge of layoffs, fell by 15,000 and reached a seasonally adjusted 281,000 in the week ended July 11, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists expected 285,000 initial claims.

In addition, a report Philadelphia Fed in July business activity index worsened significantly, thus reaching the level of 5.7 points compared to 15.2 points in June. It is worth noting that many economists had expected a decline of this indicator to the level of 12.0 points.

At the same time, self-builders in the market of newly built, single-family homes in July reached a level of 60, showed housing market index (HMI) of the National Association of Home Builders / Wells Fargo, published today. At the same time, the June reading was revised higher by one point to 60. Last time HMI reached this level in November 2005.

Most components of the index DOW closed in positive territory (25 of 30). Outsider were shares McDonald's Corp. (MCD, -1.17%). Most remaining shares rose Microsoft Corporation (MSFT, + 1.99%).

All sectors of the index S & P ended the day higher. The largest growth sector proved conglomerates (+ 1.5%).

At the close:

Dow + 0.39% 18,120.25 +70.08

Nasdaq + 1.26% 5,163.18 +64.24

S & P + 0.80% 2,124.29 +16.89