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

Nikkei +85.47 21448.52 +0.40%

TOPIX +5.40 1730.04 +0.31%

Hang Seng -552.67 28159.09 -1.92%

CSI 300 -12.91 3931.25 -0.33%

Euro Stoxx 50 -17.57 3602.08 -0.49%

FTSE 100 -19.83 7523.04 -0.26%

DAX -52.93 12990.10 -0.41%

CAC 40 -15.52 5368.29 -0.29%

DJIA +5.44 23163.04 +0.02%

S&P 500 +0.84 2562.10 +0.03%

NASDAQ -19.15 6605.07 -0.29%

S&P/TSX +35.84 15818.00 +0.23%

Major US stock indexes completed the trading session without a single dynamic against the backdrop of the fall in Apple shares and a number of weak corporate results.

A certain influence on the course of trading was provided by the US data. The Ministry of Labor reported that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to its lowest level for more than 44 years in the past week, indicating a rebound in employment growth after the decline associated with a decline in employment in September. Primary claims for unemployment benefits fell by 22,000 to 222,000, seasonally adjusted for the week to October 4, the lowest level since March 1973. Data for the previous week were revised, and showed 1000 more initial hits than previously reported.

At the same time, the report submitted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia showed that the index of business activity in the production sector increased in October, reaching a level of 27.9 points compared to 23.8 points in September. Economists had expected a decline to 22 points.

In addition, the index of leading indicators from the Conference Board for the US fell by 0.2 percent in September to 128.6, after an increase of 0.4 percent in August and 0.3 percent in July. "The index fell for the first time in the past 12 months, partly as a result of the temporary impact of hurricanes," said Ataman Ozildirim, director of business cycles at the Conference Board. - The source of weakness was focused on the labor market, while most of the components of the index continued to make a positive contribution. Despite the decline in September, the long-term trend of LEI remains in line with the continued steady growth of the US economy in the second half of the year. "

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in positive territory (20 out of 30). The leader of growth was the shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV, + 2.28%). Outsider were the shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL, -2.60%).

Most sectors of the S & P index recorded a decline. The largest decrease was in consumer goods (-1.3%). The utilities sector grew most (+ 0.7%).

At closing:

DJIA + 0.04% 23,166.69 +9.09

Nasdaq -0.29% 6,605.07 -19.15

S & P + 0.03% 2.562.11 + 0.85

U.S. stock-index futures signaled that equities would retreat from their freshly minted record highs at today's opening bell.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 21,448.52 +85.47 +0.40%

Hang Seng 28,159.09 -552.67 -1.92%

Shanghai 3,370.10 -11.70 -0.35%

S&P/ASX 5,896.13 +5.65 +0.10%

FTSE 7,500.33 -42.54 -0.56%

CAC 5,347.25 -36.56 -0.68%

DAX 12,938.63 -104.40 -0.80%

Crude $51.25 (-1.52%)

Gold $1,287.30 (+0.34%)

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

Facebook (FB) reiterated with a Buy at Stifel; target $200

NIKE (NKE) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman

Verizon (VZ) reported Q3 FY 2017 earnings of $0.98 per share (versus $1.01 in Q3 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.97.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $31.700 bln (+2.5% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $31.446 bln.

VZ rose to $49.70 (+2.16%) in pre-market trading.

Travelers (TRV) reported Q3 FY 2017 earnings of $0.91 per share (versus $2.40 in Q3 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.37.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $6.660 bln (+4.2% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $6.426 bln.

TRV rose to $132.20 (+1.68%) in pre-market trading.

American Express (AXP) reported Q3 FY 2017 earnings of $1.50 per share (versus $1.24 in Q3 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.48.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $8.436 bln (+8.5% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $8.307 bln.

The company also issued upside guidance for FY2017, projecting EPS of $5.80-5.90 (prior $5.60-5.80), versus analysts' consensus estimate of $5.74.

AXP fell to $90.10 (-2.15%) in pre-market trading.

Alcoa (AA) reported Q3 FY 2017 earnings of $0.72 per share (versus $0.32 in Q3 FY 2016), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $0.77.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $2.964 bln (+27.3% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $2.946 bln.

AA fell to $46.40 (-2.83%) in pre-market trading.

European stocks finished with gains Wednesday, as falls in the euro and the pound helped exporters and offset disappointing financial updates from companies such as Zalando. Where indexes are trading: The Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, +0.29% posted a 0.3% rise to end at 391.56. On Tuesday, the pan-European benchmark fell 0.3%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average punched firmly higher on Wednesday to a historic close above 23,000. It took 54 trading days for the gauge to close above the next round-number milestone, representing the third fastest 1,000-point advance in history. However, the record-setting climb for the more than 120-year old stock-market average might hint at some softness.

Asian stocks inched up to near decade highs on Thursday, continuing to ride on a global equities rally, while the dollar resumed its rise on the back of a spike in U.S. yields.