(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Nikkei +57.76 20881.27 +0.28%

TOPIX +1.67 1696.81 +0.10%

Hang Seng -101.26 28389.57 -0.36%

CSI 300 +12.83 3902.69 +0.33%

Euro Stoxx 50 +8.60 3607.39 +0.24%

FTSE 100 -4.46 7533.81 -0.06%

DAX +21.43 12970.68 +0.17%

CAC 40 -1.24 5362.41 -0.02%

DJIA +42.21 22872.89 +0.18%

S&P 500 +4.60 2555.24 +0.18%

NASDAQ +16.30 6603.55 +0.25%

S&P/TSX +30.04 15800.40 +0.19%

Major US stock indices increased slightly on Wednesday, while moderate gains in the conglomerate sector and technology sector were offset by the fall of the industrial goods sector on the eve of the publication of quarterly statements by Wall Street banks.

In addition, some influence on the dynamics of trading provided data for the US and the protocol of the September meeting of the FOMC. A survey of vacancies and labor turnover, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed that in August the number of vacancies decreased to 6.082 million. The indicator for July was revised downward - to 6.14 million from 6.17 million. Analysts had expected , that the number of vacancies will decrease to 6,125 million. The vacancy level was 4.0%, unchanged in July. The number of vacancies has changed little in both the private sector and the government segment. In addition, in August, hiring amounted to 5.430 million against 5.521 million in July. The level of hiring fell by 0.1%, to 3.7%. Hiring has changed little in the private sector, as well as in the government sphere.

As for the September FOMC meeting protocol, most of the Fed executives expected another rate hike this year, although some said their decision will depend on whether inflation will increase in the coming months. Many leaders of the Fed think that the weakness of inflation will be short. Otherwise, some managers have indicated that they will have to reassess the forecast rate of rate hikes. Some members of the Fed management said their decision on whether to raise rates this year will depend more on whether the economic data in the next few months will strengthen their belief in inflation growth to the committee's target level of 2%.

The components of the index of the DOW index finished the trades mixed (15 in positive territory, 15 in negative territory). The leader of growth was the shares of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ, + 2.23%). Outsider were shares of General Electric Company (GE, -1.39%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P index recorded an increase. The conglomerate sector grew most (+ 0.4%). The sector of industrial goods showed the greatest decrease (-0.2%).

At closing:

DJIA + 0.18% 22.872.89 +42.21

Nasdaq + 0.25% 6.603.55 +16.30

S & P + 0.18% 2.555.24 +4.60

U.S. stock-index futures were lower on Wednesday as investors awaited the publication of the minutes from the FOMC's latest meeting later today as well as prepared for the start of earnings season, which will unofficially kick off tomorrow tomorrow morning when financial heavyweights JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Citigroup (C) release their results for the third quarter.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 20,881.27 +57.76 +0.28%

Hang Seng 28,389.57 -101.26 -0.36%

Shanghai 3,389.05 +6.06 +0.18%

S&P/ASX 5,772.15 +34.04 +0.59%

FTSE 7,531.67 -6.60 -0.09%

CAC 5,348.51 -15.14 -0.28%

DAX 12,945.11 -4.14 -0.03%

Crude $51.02 (+0.20%)

Gold $1,292.20 (-0.12%)

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

FedEx (FDX) initiated with a Overweight at KeyBanc Capital Mkts; target $260

American Express (AXP) resumed with a Outperform at Wells Fargo; target $105

Amazon (AMZN) target raised to $1350 from $1100 at Credit Suisse

Alphabet (GOOG) target raised to $1350 from $1100 at Credit Suisse

Facebook (FB) target raised to $235 from $190 at Credit Suisse

General Electric (GE) target lowered to $20 from $22 at JP Morgan

Visa (V) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wells Fargo

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies

U.K. stocks rose Tuesday, with banks among biggest gainers after a broker upgrade, outperforming the wider European market that was weighed by tensions between Catalonia and Madrid. The FTSE 100 index UKX, +0.40% picked up 0.4% to end at 7,538.27, marking its highest close in two months.

All main U.S. stock indexes closed higher on Tuesday, with the Dow finishing at its 47th record for 2017, as optimism appeared to grow ahead of the start of the earnings season, which will provide concrete insight into the state of U.S. corporations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.31% rose 69.61 points, or 0.3%, to end at 22,830.68. The S&P 500 SPX, +0.23% added 5.91 points, or 0.2%, to close at 2,550.64. The Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +0.11% reversed earlier losses to finish 7.52 points, or 0.1%, higher at 6,587.25.

The monthlong global stock rally continued early Wednesday, with Asian stocks mostly higher and Japan's Nikkei making a fresh run at its best close since 1996. The markets seem to be comfortable with the U.S. Federal Reserve's plan to remain on its rate-increase path, as it signals confidence that the economy there is accelerating, said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets.