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

Nikkei +32.16 21739.78 +0.15%

TOPIX +2.47 1753.90 +0.14%

Hang Seng -100.51 28202.38 -0.36%

CSI 300 +16.63 3993.58 +0.42%

Euro Stoxx 50 +45.74 3637.20 +1.27%

FTSE 100 +39.29 7486.50 +0.53%

DAX +179.87 13133.28 +1.39%

CAC 40 +80.51 5455.40 +1.50%

DJIA +71.40 23400.86 +0.31%

S&P 500 +3.25 2560.40 +0.13%

NASDAQ -7.12 6556.77 -0.11%

S&P/TSX +36.86 15891.63 +0.23%

The main US stock indexes mainly increased, as the rise in the price of shares in the consumer goods and technology sector made it possible to compensate for the collapse of the shares in the health sector.

The focus was also on the United States. As it became known, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week increased less than expected, indicating that the labor market continues to toughen after recent hurricane-related disruptions. Initial applications for unemployment benefits increased by 10,000 to 233,000, seasonally adjusted for the week to October 21, the Ministry of Labor said. The latter value was the lowest since March 1973. The four-week moving average of primary hits fell 9,000 to 239,500 last week.

At the same time, the number of contracts for the purchase of housing on the secondary market did not change in September, while activity in annual terms decreased for the fifth time in the last six months, as demand for real estate still exceeded supply. The National Association of Realtors said its forecast domestic sales index, based on contracts signed last month, remained at 106.0. The August index was revised to -2.8 percent from -2.6 percent. Economists predicted that unfinished transactions for the sale of housing last month increased by 0.2 percent.

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in positive territory (24 out of 30). Leader of the growth were shares of NIKE, Inc. (NKE, + 3.31%). Outsider were shares of 3M Company (MMM, -2.02%).

Most sectors of the S & P index recorded an increase. The consumer goods sector grew most (+ 0.7%). The health sector showed the greatest decline (-1.0%).

At closing:

DJIA + 0.31% 23,400.86 +71.40

Nasdaq -0.11% 6,556.77 -7.12

S & P + 0.13% 2.560.40 +3.25

U.S. stock-index futures were little changed on Thursday amid a batch of corporate earnings and ongoing speculation about the Federal Reserve's next chair.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 21,739.78 +32.16 +0.15%

Hang Seng 28,202.38 -100.51 -0.36%

Shanghai 3,408.24 +11.35 +0.33%

S&P/ASX 5,916.30 +10.70 +0.18%

FTSE 7,482.62 +35.41 +0.48%

CAC 5,419.20 +44.31 +0.82%

DAX 13,030.96 +77.55 +0.60%

Crude $52.22 (+0.08%)

Gold $1,276.20 (-0.22%)

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

Barrick Gold (ABX) downgraded to Neutral from Outperform at Credit Suisse

Twitter (TWTR) reported Q3 FY 2017 earnings of $0.10 per share (versus $0.13 in Q3 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.06.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $0.590 bln (-4.2% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $0.586 bln.

TWTR rose to $19.20 (+12.02%) in pre-market trading.

Ford Motor (F) reported Q3 FY 2017 earnings of $0.43 per share (versus $0.26 in Q3 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.33.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $33.646 bln (+0.9% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $32.805 bln.

The company also raised guidance for FY2017 EPS to $1.75-1.85 from $1.65-1.85 versus analysts' consensus estimate of $1.74.

F rose to $12.25 (+1.74%) in pre-market trading.

Barrick Gold (ABX) reported Q3 FY 2017 earnings of $0.16 per share (versus $0.24 in Q3 FY 2016), in-line with analysts' consensus estimate.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $1.933 bln (-15.8% y/y), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $2.020 bln.

ABX fell to $15.56 (-1.21%) in pre-market trading.

Altria (MO) reported Q3 FY 2017 earnings of $0.90 per share (versus $0.82 in Q3 FY 2016), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.87.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $5.100 bln (-1.8% y/y), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $5.217 bln.

The company also issued in-line guidance for FY2017, projecting EPS of $3.26-3.32 versus analysts' consensus estimate of $3.27.

MO rose to $63.94 (+0.24%) in pre-market trading.

U.K. stocks closed lower Wednesday after a stronger-than-expected reading on British economic growth drove the pound up against the U.S. dollar and the euro. The FTSE 100 index UKX, -1.05% fell 1.1% to end at 7,447.21. On Tuesday, the London benchmark rose less than 0.1%, notching a third straight gain. It was also the third session in a row that stocks closed with a move smaller than 0.1%.

The S&P 500 and the Dow on Wednesday posted their biggest one-day declines in more than seven weeks on a string of disappointing earnings, even as the stock market pared early losses.

A global stock pullback moved into Asia on Thursday, with most markets down modestly following similar-sized declines overnight in Europe and the U.S., pausing what has been a big month of gains for many indexes.