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

Nikkei -1.71 18430.49 -0.01%

TOPIX +1.39 1472.81 +0.09%

Hang Seng +231.10 24056.98 +0.97%

CSI 300 +16.01 3462.09 +0.46%

Euro Stoxx 50 +19.04 3440.03 +0.56%

FTSE 100 +4.18 7118.54 +0.06%

DAX +10.87 12027.32 +0.09%

CAC 40 +74.18 5077.91 +1.48%

DJIA +174.22 20578.71 +0.85%

S&P 500 +17.67 2355.84 +0.76%

NASDAQ +53.74 5916.78 +0.92%

S&P/TSX +72.68 15625.56 +0.47%

Major US stock indices added about a percentage on Thursday, mainly due to the growth of shares in the conglomerate sector and financial segment.

In addition, as it became known today, new applications for unemployment benefits in the US rose slightly more than expected last week, but the number of Americans who continue to receive unemployment benefits fell to a 17-year low, indicating a tightening of the labor market. Initial claims for unemployment benefits increased by 10,000 and, taking into account seasonal fluctuations, reached 244,000 for the week ending April 15. This increase followed a three-week decline. Economists predicted that primary treatment will grow to 242,000 people. The average four-week moving average of calls, which is considered to be the best indicator of labor market trends, fell by 4,250 to 243,000 last week. The report also showed that the number of repeated applications for unemployment benefits decreased by 49,000 to 1.98 million in the week to April 8. This was the lowest rate since April 2000.

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 fell in April to 22 points from 32.8 points in March. Economists had expected a decline to 25 points. The employment index rose to 19.9 from 17.5 in March, while the index of new orders fell to 27.4 from 38.6 in March.

Oil futures fell a little on Thursday, Negative impact on prices was provided by evidence of an increase in oil production in the US, but further drop in quotes held back comments from the leading oil producers in the Gulf of Mexico regarding the extension of the current agreement to reduce oil production.

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in positive territory (26 out of 30). More fell shares Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ, -1.35%). The leader of growth was shares of American Express Company (AXP, + 6.12%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P index showed a positive trend. The leader of growth was the conglomerate sector (+ 1.7%). Only the utilities sector fell (-0.3%).

At closing:

DJIA + 0.86% 20.579.26 +174.77

Nasdaq + 0.92% 5,916.78 +53.75

S & P + 0.76% 2,355.92 +17.75

U.S. stock-index rose amid increased optimism around the first-quarter earnings season, while oil prices kept above $50 level.

Stocks:

Nikkei 18,430.49 -1.71 -0.01%

Hang Seng 24,056.98 +231.10 +0.97%

Shanghai 3,172.59 +1.90 +0.06%

FTSE 7,110.50 -3.86 -0.05%

CAC 5,046.67 +42.94 +0.86%

DAX 12,018.06 +1.61 +0.01%

Crude $50.74 (-0.22%)

Gold $1,282.10 (-0.10%)

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

Upgrades:

Goldman Sachs (GS) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Atlantic Equities

Starbucks (SBUX) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Stifel

Downgrades:

Other:

Amazon (AMZN) target raised to $1000 from $940 at Maxim Group

Verizon (VZ) reported Q1 FY 2017 earnings of $0.95 per share (versus $1.06 in Q1 FY 2016), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $0.96.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $29.814 bln (-7.3% y/y), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $30.411 bln.

VZ fell to $48.05 (-1.82%) in pre-market trading.

Travelers (TRV) reported Q1 FY 2017 earnings of $2.16 per share (versus $2.33 in Q1 FY 2016), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $2.38.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $6.183 bln (+3.4% y/y), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $6.252 bln.

TRV fell to $119.00 (-1.16%) in pre-market trading.

American Express (AXP) reported Q1 FY 2017 earnings of $1.34 per share (versus $1.45 in Q1 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.27.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $7.889 bln (-2.5% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $7.764 bln.

The company also reaffirmed guidance for FY 2017, projecting EPS of $5.60-5.80 versus analysts' consensus estimate of $5.65.

AXP rose to $77.50 (+2.58%) in pre-market trading.

European stocks finished with moderate gains Wednesday, as investors assessed a stack of earnings reports a day after the market suffered its worst session in five months.

European stocks finished with moderate gains Wednesday, as investors assessed a stack of earnings reports a day after the market suffered its worst session in five months.

Asian stocks posted broad early gains Thursday after wide weakness Wednesday as investors eased up on worries. Some so-called havens - including sovereign debt, gold and the yen - pulled back overnight. That sentiment carried over into Asia.