Major US stock indices showed mixed dynamics on Wednesday, as the growth of shares in the health sector was countered by the fall in quotations of the main materials sector.
In addition, as it became known, in May, home sales in the secondary market in the US unexpectedly rose to the third highest monthly level in a decade, and the chronic shortage of stocks pushed the median price of housing to a record level. The National Association of Realtors said that home sales in the secondary market grew by 1.1% to 5.62 million units, taking into account seasonal fluctuations last month. Economists predicted that sales would fall to 5.55 million.
Oil prices fell by more than 2%, the reason for which were the continuing concerns about the oversaturation of the market. Since the beginning of this year, oil futures have lost about 20% of their value, which is the worst result for the first six months of the year since 1997. Compliance with the agreement between OPEC and other producers to reduce production by 1.8 million barrels per day reached the highest level in May since the signing of this pact, namely 106%. This means that they cut production more than necessary. Compliance with the agreement by OPEC members was 108%, and among non-OPEC countries, it was 100%. Nevertheless, the global reserves of crude oil and petroleum products remain significantly higher than their long-term average values.
Most components of the DOW index recorded a decline (18 out of 30). Most fell shares of Caterpillar Inc. (CAT, -3.46%). Leader of the growth were shares of NIKE, Inc. (NKE, + 1.80%).
Most sectors of the S & P index showed a decline. Most of all fell the sector of basic materials (-1.1%). The leader of growth was the healthcare sector (+ 1.3%).
At closing:
DJIA -0.24% 21.415.23 -51.91
Nasdaq + 0.74% 6.233.95 +45.92
S & P -0.06% 2.435.66 -1.37