Major US stock indexes showed a slight decrease, as the poor results of several companies of industrial and consumer sector eclipsed revenues from healthcare growth stocks.

In addition, as it became known today, the number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits fell last week, pointing to sustained strength of the labor market and strengthen economic growth. Primary applications for unemployment benefits fell by 3,000 and reached a seasonally adjusted 258,000 for the week ended October 22, reported Thursday the Ministry of Labour. It marked 86 consecutive weeks, when the treatment was below the threshold of 300 000, which is usually associated with a strong labor market. This is the longest period since 1970, when the labor market was much smaller.

However, new orders for manufactured durable goods decreased by $ 0.3 billion in September, or 0.1% to $ 227.3 billion, the US Census Bureau reported today. This decline came after two consecutive monthly increases, including growth of 0.3% in August. Except for transportation, new orders increased by 0.2%. With the exception of defense orders, new orders increased by 0.7%. Orders transport equipment also declined after two consecutive monthly increases, to $ 0.6 billion or 0.8% to $ 77.5 billion.

It should also be noted that the number of signed contracts for the purchase of housing on the secondary market in the US rose more than expected in September, becoming yet another sign of the momentum in the housing market. The National Association of Realtors reported Thursday that its index of pending home sales, based on contracts signed in the past month increased by 1.5% to 110.0 after falling in August.

DOW index components closed in different directions (12 against 18 in the black in the red). Most remaining shares rose Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ, + 2.02%). Outsider were shares of The Boeing Company (BA, -1.61%).

Most of the S & P sectors registered a decline. The leader turned out to be the health sector (+ 0.2%). conglomerates (-1.3%) sectors fell most.

At the close:

Dow -0.14% 18,173.38 -25.95

Nasdaq -0.65% 5,215.97 -34.30

S & P -0.28% 2,133.36 -6.07