The main US stock indexes have mostly grown. The attention of investors is focused on the Fed conference in Jackson Hole, during which the Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen stated that the reforms put in place after the crisis of 2007-2007 strengthened the financial system without impeding economic growth and Any changes in these rules should remain modest.

Investors also analyzed data on orders for durable goods in the US. According to the report of the Ministry of Trade, orders for durable goods in July decreased by 6.8%, which was caused by a sharp drop in the volatile category of aircraft. This was the biggest decline since August 2014. In June, orders rose by 6.4%. Economists predicted that the total volume of orders for durable goods will decrease by 6% in July. At the same time, excluding transport, orders for durable goods increased by 0.5%, marking the third monthly increase. And one more key measure - orders for basic capital goods, a sensor for investment in business, in July increased by 0.4%. This category has not decreased since December. Shipments of fixed assets, the category used to calculate the quarterly economic growth, in July rose by 1%, which is the fastest pace since February. On the other hand, orders, excluding the defense sector, in July fell by 7.8%, this is the maximum drop in three years.

Quotes of oil have risen moderately on Friday as the US oil industry prepares for Hurricane Harvey, which could become the largest storm that will hit the mainland in more than a decade.

Most components of the DOW index recorded a rise (24 out of 30). The growth leader was the shares of The Home Depot, Inc. (HD, + 1.04%). Outsider were shares of The Boeing Company (BA, -1.14%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P index have grown. The conglomerate sector rose most (+ 0.8%). The healthcare sector and the technology sector completed their trades unchanged.

At closing:

Dow + 0.14% 21.813.67 +30.27

Nasdaq -0.09% 6.265.64 -5.69

S & P + 0.17% 2.443.05 +4.08

U.S. stock-index futures rose moderately on Friday following yesterday's modest decline. Investors awaited the speeches of the Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen and European Central Bank President Mario Draghi at Jackson Hole Conference.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 19,452.61 +98.84 +0.51%

Hang Seng 27,848.16 +329.56 +1.20%

Shanghai 3,331.66 +60.15 +1.84%

S&P/ASX 5,743.86 -1.62 -0.03%

FTSE 7,431.68 +24.62 +0.33%

CAC 5,119.67 +6.54 +0.13%

DAX12,205.18 +24.35 +0.20%

Crude $47.64 (+0.44%)

Gold $1,291.50 (-0.04%)

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

Twitter (TWTR) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Jefferies

Starbucks (SBUX) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Wedbush

Japanese stocks rebounded as the yen pulled back after inflation ticked higher, though many global investors remain on the sidelines ahead of key comments at a central-banking conclave in the U.S. The Nikkei NIK, +0.63% ended the morning trading session up 0.4% after falling in 12 of the past 15 sessions. Earlier, it was up as much as 0.5%. The U.S. dollar moved back above ¥109.60 from around ¥109 when Tokyo stocks stopped trading Thursday.

U.S. stocks closed slightly lower Thursday, after a session of switching between small gains and losses, during a seasonally low-volume period prone to swings, as investors focused on a symposium of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The market had received a brief boost in afternoon trade after House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., expressed confidence in passing a tax-overhaul package this year and raising the debt ceiling.

European stock markets notched small gains Thursday, with investors taking a cautious approach as the Jackson Hole summit that's been hanging over markets this week was finally about to kick off. The Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, +0.16% closed up 0.2% at 374.51, partly recouping a 0.5% loss from Wednesday.