Major US stock indexes finished the session around zero, as the fall in shares in the utilities sector and consumer goods was offset by growth in the conglomerate sector and industrial goods. In addition, September data showed that the business activity of the private sector in the US has improved significantly, while the composite index was close to the 7-month high. The last expansion of production in the private sector was supported by a steady increase in activity in the services sector, which contrasts with the relatively modest growth among manufacturing companies. In September, taking into account seasonal fluctuations, the composite PMI index was 54.6 points, which is less than 55.3 in August, but still much higher than the neutral point of 50 points.

The cost of oil futures rose slightly on Friday after large oil producers at a meeting of the OPEC-led committee announced record compliance with their agreement to cut production, but, as expected, did not decide to extend the agreement.

Most components of the DOW index recorded a decline (16 out of 30). Outsider were shares UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH, -1.23%). Leader of the growth were shares of Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO, + 2.08%).

Most sectors of S & P completed the auction in positive territory. The conglomerate sector grew most (+ 0.7%). The utilities sector showed the greatest decrease (-0.6%).

At closing:

Dow -0.04% 22,349.59 -9.64

Nasdaq + 0.07% 6.426.92 +4.23

S & P + 0.06% 2.502.22 +1.62

U.S. stock-index futures fell on Friday, as tensions between North Korea and the United States escalated again, pushing investors to safe-haven assets.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 20,296.45 -51.03 -0.25%

Hang Seng 27,880.53 -229.80 -0.82%

Shanghai 3,352.87 -4.94 -0.15%

S&P/ASX 5,682.14 +26.72 +0.47%

FTSE 7,273.92 +10.02 +0.14%

CAC 5,280.02 +12.73 +0.24%

DAX 12,590.62 -9.41 -0.07%

Crude $50.32 (-0.45%)

Gold $1,297.80 (+0.23%)

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

European stocks ended mostly higher on Thursday, with banks stocks marching higher after the U.S. Federal Reserve indicated it will continue to raise official interest rates. The Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, +0.24% rose 0.2% to 382.88, closing at its highest level since July 20. On Wednesday, the benchmark closed fractionally lower as investors marked time before the highly anticipated Fed policy announcement.

U.S. stocks finished lower Thursday, with the Dow snapping a nine-day winning streak as investors found few reasons to chase equities a day after the Federal Reserve indicated it still intends to deliver another rate increase in 2017 and detailed the unwinding of $4.5 trillion balance sheet.

Most Asian stock markets fell Friday as investors turned cautious following new U.S. sanctions targeting North Korea and a China credit rating downgrade.