Major US stock indexes finished trading in the red, but retreated from the session low amid hopes for a trade deal between the US and China.

The selling pressure eased after a message from Trump that he had a “great alternative” to the Chinese trade deal. “They will see what they can do,” Trump said of the Chinese delegation after the White House event on stopping the so-called unexpected medical billing. “But our alternative is excellent,” he told reporters. “This is the alternative I have been talking about for years. We will receive more than $ 100 billion a year. “We never took a dime from China,” Trump said. - And I think it will be a very strong day. But we'll see. ” He added: “It was their idea to return.”

Sarah Sanders, spokeswoman for the White House, said earlier that Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will have dinner with US Trade Representative Robert Lightheiser and other US officials this evening, as the two largest countries in the world are trying to save a trade deal. However, Mr. Liu’s meeting with President Donald Trump on Thursday is not expected, she added.

In general, amid the uncertainty surrounding the negotiations, market participants actually ignored a block of important macro statistics. Thus, the Ministry of Labor reported that producer price index for final demand rose by 0.2% last month, as expected, after rising 0.6% in March. In the 12 months to April, the producer price index rose by 2.2%, which corresponds to growth in March. Economists had forecast a growth rate of 2.3%.

The Ministry of Labor reported that initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 2,000 to 228,000, taking into account seasonal fluctuations in the week to 4 May. The data for the previous week was unchanged. Economists predicted that in the last week the number of applications will fall to 220,000.

Meanwhile, a report by the Department of Commerce indicated that the US trade deficit in March increased to $ 50.0 billion from $ 49.3 billion in February. Economists had forecast a growth in the deficit to $ 50.2 billion.

Almost all the components of DOW finished trading in the red (23 out of 30). Intel Corp shares were an outsider. (INTC; -5.20%). Chevron Corp. shares rose the most. (CVX, + 2.97%).

All sectors of the S & P recorded a fall. The largest decline was shown by the conglomerate sector (-0.7%) and the consumer goods sector (-0.7%).

At the time of closing:

Dow 25,828.36 -138.97 -0.54%

S & P 500 2,870.72 -8.70 -0.30%

Nasdaq 100 7,910.59 -32.73 -0.41%