Major US stock indices closed above zero

Major Wall Street stock indexes finished trading almost unchanged, despite the significant rise in oil prices and strong Wal-Mart quarterly results.

Thus, the report of the company Wal-Mart (WMT) pleased investors because the company's quarterly profit surpassed analysts' forecasts - $ 1.07 per against the average forecast of $ 1.02. Quarterly revenue of Wal-Mart, as well as analysts predicted, actually remained at the level of the second quarter of the previous year and amounted to $ 119.405 billion. The Wal-Mart also reported figure forecast increase in earnings per share for 2017 to $ 4.15-4.35 previous c $ 4.00-4.30.

Oil prices rose significantly, reaching a six-week high, as the largest oil producers in the world have signaled their readiness to discuss the possibility of freezing production levels. Brent crude oil prices have risen by more than 20% since the beginning of the month in response to the news that members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other key exporters are likely to resume talks on freezing production levels at a meeting in September.

In addition, as reported by the Ministry of Labour, the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week. Primary applications for state unemployment benefits fell by 4,000 and reached a seasonally adjusted 262,000 for the week ended August 13th. Economists forecast that initial applications fall to 265,000 last week. Primary applications now remain below 300,000, a threshold associated with a strong labor market for 76 consecutive weeks. This is the longest period since 1973, when the labor market was much smaller.

At the same time, the index of leading economic indicators from the Conference Board (LEI) for the US increased by 0.4% in July to 124.3 (2010 = 100), after rising by 0.3% in June, as well as the decline in 0, 2% in May. "The index of leading indicators continued to improve in July, suggesting that moderate economic growth should continue until the end of 2016", - said Ataman Oziildirim expert Conference Board. - Maybe even celebrated some acceleration of growth if the recent improvement in manufacturing and construction will continue, and consumer expectations are not to deteriorate. "

DOW index components finished trading in different directions (14 against 16 in the red in the black). Most remaining shares increased Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT, + 1.82%). Outsider were shares of Caterpillar Inc. (CAT, -1.35%).

Sector S & P index closed mostly in positive territory. The leader turned out to be the basic materials sector (+ 1.2%). conglomerates (-2.9%) sectors fell most.

At the close:

Dow + 0.12% 18,597.12 +23.18

Nasdaq + 0.22% 5,240.15 +11.49

S & P + 0.22% 2,186.99 +4.77