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

Nikkei -9.75 22486.24 -0.04%

TOPIX -4.66 1772.07 -0.26%

Hang Seng -5.34 29680.85 -0.02%

CSI 300 +5.87 4055.82 +0.14%

Euro Stoxx 50 +19.47 3583.49 +0.55%

FTSE 100 +76.75 7460.65 +1.04%

DAX +59.33 13059.53 +0.46%

CAC 40 +30.39 5390.48 +0.57%

DJIA +255.93 23836.71 +1.09%

S&P 500 +25.62 2627.04 +0.98%

NASDAQ +33.84 6912.36 +0.49%

S&P/TSX -12.48 16029.64 -0.08%

Major US stock indices rose significantly, reaching new record levels, as investors reacted positively to the comments of the candidate for the post of the head of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, and ceased to worry about progress in the US tax reform.

The focus was also on the United States. As it became known, the index of consumer confidence from the Conference Board grew in November after improvement in October. The index now stands at 129.5 against 126.2 in October. The index of the current situation increased from 152.0 to 153.9, while the index of expectations rose from 109.0 to 113.3.

In addition, manufacturing firms reported steady growth in business activity in November, according to a recent survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The index of manufacturing activity jumped from 12 to 30, the highest value since 1993. This growth was reinforced by the strengthening of conditions in all three components of the index. Although indicators of current wages and finished goods declined in November, both remained at positive levels, declining from 24 to 21, and from 14 to 9, respectively.

Almost all components of the DOW index finished trading in positive territory (27 out of 30). Leader of the growth were shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM, + 3.81%). Outsider were the shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL, -0.75%).

All sectors of the S & P index recorded an increase. The financial sector grew the most (+ 1.4%).

At closing:

DJIA + 1.09% 23,837.74 +256.96

Nasdaq + 0.49% 6,912.36 +33.84

S & P + 0.99% 2,627.05 +25.63

U.S. stock-index futures were slightly higher on Tuesday, as investors awaited the confirmation hearing of new Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 22,486.24 -9.75 -0.04%

Hang Seng 29,680.85 -5.34 -0.02%

Shanghai 3,333.66 +11.43 +0.34%

S&P/ASX 5,984.25 -4.52 -0.08%

FTSE 7,439.86 +55.96 +0.76%

CAC 5,385.08 +24.99 +0.47%

DAX 13,036.63 +36.43 +0.28%

Crude $57.74 (-0.64%)

Gold $1,295.10 (+0.05%)

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

Amazon (AMZN) target raised to $1450 from $1300 at Goldman (Street High)

NIKE (NKE) downgraded to Hold from Buy at HSBC Securities

Home Depot (HD) upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at Atlantic Equities

European stocks ended a choppy session in negative territory on Monday, with banking stocks leading the charge lower as shares of Swiss private banking group Julius Baer Gruppe AG were rocked by the sudden resignation of its chief executive, effective immediately. Oil stocks were also weighing on sentiment, as they tracked a slide in oil prices ahead of the closely watched OPEC meeting on Thursday.

U.S. stocks closed mostly lower on Monday after touching intraday records as an early rally in retail shares largely fizzled. However, the blue-chip Dow bucked the weak trend to eke out a gain.

Asia-Pacific stocks mirrored modest overnight declines in Europe and the U.S., though Japanese equities turned higher thanks to a pullback in the yen. Ahead of a busy set of events in the coming days - including a meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and key economic reports - market participants have been cautious about placing big bets.