Major US stock indices fell mainly on Friday amid fears that the delay in lowering corporate tax rates to 20% from the current 35% for one year could stop the rally in the stock market.

In addition, according to preliminary research results submitted by Thomson-Reuters and the Michigan Institute, a gauge of sentiment among US consumers fell in November, despite the average predictions of experts. According to the data, in November the consumer sentiment index fell to 97.8 points compared with the final reading for October at the level of 100.7 points. It was expected that the index will remain unchanged, at the level of 100.7 points.

Oil prices fell on Friday, but still remain at a high level, which is the result of efforts by OPEC and Russia to tighten the market by cutting production, as well as strong demand and growing political tensions. Market participants also expect that during the next OPEC meeting on November 30, agreement will be reached on the extension of the pact to cut production, which expires in March 2018. "Obviously, the market remains convinced that OPEC will be able to tighten the market sufficiently by extending its agreement to cut production, so attention is paid to any news that supports this view," said analysts at Commerzbank. "Even much more the weak import of crude oil by China in October and the increase in oil production in the US to a record level did not have any sustained pressure on prices. "

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in the red (21 out of 30). Outsider were shares of Intel Corporation (INTC, -1.56%). The leader of growth was shares of General Electric Company (GE, + 2.80%).

Most sectors of the S & P index recorded a decline. The largest drop was shown by the sector of conglomerates (-1.7%). The services sector grew most (+ 0.3%).

At closing:

Dow -0.17% 23.422.21 -39.73

Nasdaq + 0.01% 6,750.94 +0.89

S & P -0.09% 2,582.30 -2.32

U.S. stock-index futures were lower on Friday, weighed down by fears that a delay in corporate tax cuts by one year may stall the market rally that is partly hinged on the U.S. President Donald Trump's election promise to boost corporate profits and create jobs.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 22,868.71 -45.11 -0.20%

Nikkei 22,681.42 -187.29 -0.82%

Hang Seng 29,120.92 -15.65 -0.05%

Shanghai 3,433.35 +5.56 +0.16%

S&P/ASX 6,029.37 -20.05 -0.33%

FTSE 7,444.47 -39.63 -0.53%

CAC 5,400.47 -7.28 -0.13%

DAX 13,188.94 +6.38 +0.05%

Crude $57.24 (+0.12%)

Gold $1,284.30 (+0.25%)

(company / ticker / price / change ($/%) / volume)

Walt Disney (DIS) reiterated with a Hold rating at Needham

Walt Disney (DIS) reiterated with a Neutral rating at B. Riley FBR; target raised to $101 from $97

Walt Disney (DIS) reiterated with a Top Pick rating at RBC Capital Mkts; target $125

Disney (DIS) reported Q4 FY 2017 earnings of $1.07 per share (versus $1.10 in Q4 FY 2016), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $1.12.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $12.779 bln (-2.8% y/y), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $13.295 bln.

DIS rose to $103.00 (+0.31%) in pre-market trading.

European stocks posted sharp declines by Thursday's market close, as a string of corporate earnings triggered negative moves across sectors and bourses. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed sharply lower, down 1.11 percent provisionally on Thursday, with all sectors and major bourses ending in negative territory.

U.S. stocks closed lower Thursday in their worst session in two weeks with the Dow snapping a seven-day win streak on worries over a possible delay in much-anticipated corporate tax cut. However, main indexes trimmed losses after the House Ways and Committee approved a bill to overhaul the tax code, setting up a vote by the full House.

Global equities remained under selling pressure on Friday with Japan's benchmark index leading declines in Asia, tracking overnight weakness on Wall Street on concerns over the U.S. tax-overhaul plan. Key U.S. stock indexes slid as the U.S. Senate's plan to push through a different tax proposal than what the House of Representatives released last week caused some investors to question the Republicans' ability to get a bill through to the White House.