Major US stock indexes completed trades mixed

Major US stock indexes ended the session in different directions, as losses in the health sector slowed the strongest start of the year on Wall Street in a decade, and important statistics that could influence the mood of market participants were not published.

Oil prices rose slightly, approaching 3-year highs. Support for oil has a small decrease in the number of drilling rigs in the US and a steady decline in OPEC production, while price increases were limited to strengthening the US dollar. Oil service company Baker Hughes reported on Friday that from December 30 to January 5, the number of active drilling rigs for oil production in the US fell by 5 pieces, to 742 units. The number of installations for gas production has not changed, amounting to 182 units. Meanwhile, the total number of drilling rigs (gas and oil) decreased by 5 units, to 924 units.

Gradually, the focus of investors' attention shifts to the quarterly results of JPMorgan (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC) and BlackRock (BLK), which will be released on Friday, and will start the corporate reporting season in the US.

Most components of the DOW index recorded a decline (17 out of 30). Outsider were shares UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH, -1.70%). Caterpillar Inc. was the growth leader. (CAT, + 2.56%).

Most sectors of the S & P index finished trading in positive territory. The utilities sector grew most (+ 0.7%). The health sector showed the greatest decline (-0.5%).

At closing:

DJIA -0.05% 25.282.93 -12.94

Nasdaq + 0.29% 7.157.39 +20.83

S & P + 0.17% 2,747.70 +4.55