Major US stock indexes rose on the first trading day of 2018, helped by a rise in the price of shares in the commodity sector and the services sector.

In addition, data for December showed a marked improvement in the production conditions in the US. The latest growth was confirmed by a faster increase in output and new orders, supported by demand from customers. In accordance with the stronger production growth, employment has grown at the fastest pace since September 2014. Incomplete production has grown at the fastest rate since October 2015. Delays in the supply chain and an increase in the global demand for resources pushed up costs, while the inflation of procurement prices remains high overall. The inflation of the selling prices, however, is relaxed. Business confidence remained strong, due to more favorable demand conditions. The seasonally adjusted final index of purchasing managers in the US industry from IHS Markit (PMI) rose to 55.1 in December, compared with 53.9 in November. The last value of the index was the highest since March 2015, indicating a better health sector.

Most components of the DOW index recorded a rise (20 out of 30). The leader of growth was the shares of The Walt Disney Company (DIS, + 3.87%). Outsider were the shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV, -2.76%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P index finished trading in positive territory. The commodities sector grew most (+ 2.2%). The decrease was shown only by the utilities sector (-0.6%).

At closing:

DJIA + 0.42% 24,823.53 +104.31

Nasdaq + 1.50% 7.006.90 +103.51

S & P + 0.83% 2,695.80 +22.19

U.S. stock-index futures signaled higher open on Tuesday, the first trading day of 2018.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei -

Hang Seng 30,515.31 +596.16 +1.99%

Shanghai 3,349.05 +41.88 +1.27%

S&P/ASX 6,061.30 -3.80 -0.06%

FTSE 7,646.12 -41.65 -0.54%

CAC 5,279.13 -33.43 -0.63%

DAX 12,822.62 -95.02 -0.74%

Crude $60.32 (-0.17%)

Gold $1,315.40 (+0.47%)

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

McDonald's (MCD) target raised to $200 from $175 at BTIG Research

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan

Walt Disney (DIS) upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Macquarie

Int'l Paper (IP) upgraded to Buy at BofA/Merrill

Asian stock markets are mostly higher on Tuesday, the first trading day of 2018, as investors digested upbeat China manufacturing PMI data for the month of December. Sentiment was also boosted after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he is open to talks with South Korea. China Caixin manufacturing PMI showed a December reading of 51.5, beating expectations and also touching a four-month high. The Australian market recovered from a weak start and is edging higher. Gains by mining stocks helped offset weakness in oil stocks.

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

Nikkei -19.04 22764.94 -0.08%

TOPIX -1.47 1817.56 -0.08%

Hang Seng +55.44 29919.15 +0.19%

CSI 300 +11.96 4030.86 +0.30%

Euro Stoxx 50 -20.35 3503.96 -0.58%

FTSE 100 +64.89 7687.77 +0.85%

DAX -62.30 12917.64 -0.48%

CAC 40 -26.86 5312.56 -0.50%

DJIA -118.29 24719.22 -0.48%

S&P 500 -13.93 2673.61 -0.52%

NASDAQ -46.77 6903.39 -0.67%

S&P/TSX -12.82 16209.13 -0.08%