Major US stock indexes rose slightly on Monday, amid continued growth in the health sector and the second straight session after the publication of positive macroeconomic news. Thus, according to the US Commerce Department, new orders for US manufactured goods marked their biggest increase in eight months in March, against a background of increasing demand for transport equipment, but the underlying trend remains weak against the background of a strong dollar. New orders for manufactured goods increased by 2.1%, noting the biggest gain since July 2014, after a revised fall of 0.1% in February.

In addition, oil prices decline moderately after today peaked this year. Market participants continue to analyze data on the manufacturing sector in China, which increased expectations for additional measures to support the economy. Earlier today it was reported that of the HSBC manufacturing PMI for China fell to 48.9 in April from 49.6 in March. It was expected that the figure will be 49.4. Manufacturing activity declined at the fastest pace in a year due to lower levels of new orders, fueling fears over a slowdown in the second largest economy in the world.

Most components of the index DOW closed in positive territory (23 of 30). Outsider were shares McDonald's Corp. (MCD, -1.68%). Most remaining shares rose JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM, + 1.68%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P closed in the positive zone. Most utilities sector grew (+ 0.9%). The decrease recorded only sector conglomerates (-0.2%).

At the close:

Dow + 0.26% 18,070.40 +46.34

Nasdaq + 0.23% 5,016.93 +11.54

S & P + 0.29% 2,114.47 +6.18

Major U.S. stock-indexes rose on Monday as healthcare stocks rose for a second straight session and new orders for U.S. factory goods recorded their biggest increase in eight months. New orders for U.S.-made goods rose a higher-than-expected 2.1 percent in March.

Most of the Dow stocks are trading in positive area (27 of 30). Top looser - Chevron Corporation (CVX, -0.50%). Top gainer - Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK, +1.30%).

All S&P index sectors in positive area. Top gainer - Utilities (+1,1%).

At the moment:

Dow 18020.00 +86.00 +0.48%

S&P 500 2110.75 +9.25 +0.44%

Nasdaq 100 4487.75 +20.00 +0.45%

10-year yield 2.13% +0.02

Oil 58.83 -0.32 -0.54%

Gold 1189.90 +15.40 +1.31%

Stock indices closed higher on manufacturing PMIs from the Eurozone. Eurozone's final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 52.0 in April from 52.2 in March, up from a preliminary reading of 51.9.

Ireland and Spain were the top performers in April, while France's and Greece's manufacturing activity contracted due to falling production and job cuts.

Germany's final manufacturing PMI decreased to 52.1 in April from 52.8 in March, up from a preliminary reading of 51.9.

France's final manufacturing PMI dropped to 48.0 in April from 48.8 in March, down a preliminary reading of 48.4.

Market research group Sentix released its investor confidence index for the Eurozone on Monday. The index fell to 19.6 in May from 20.0 in April, missing expectations for a decline to 19.8.

The Eurozone's recovery was offset by the uncertainty over the Greek debt crisis.

Stock market in the U.K. is closed for a public holiday.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 closed

DAX 11,619.85 +165.47 +1.44 %

CAC 40 5,081.97 +35.48 +0.70 %

The U.S. Commerce Department released factory orders data on Monday. Factory orders in the U.S. rose 2.1% in March, exceeding expectations for a 2.0% increase, after a 0.1% decline in February. It was the largest increase since August 2014.

February's figure was revised down from a 0.2% rise.

The increase was driven by higher orders for durable goods. Durable goods orders jumped by 4.4% in March

Non-durable goods orders fell 0.3% in March.

Markit Economics released its manufacturing purchasing managers' index for Italy on Monday. Italy's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) increased to 53.8 in April from 53.3 in March.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion in activity.

The increase was driven by higher output and new orders.

Markit Economics released its manufacturing purchasing managers' index for Spain on Monday. Spain's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) was down to 54.2 in April from 54.3 in March.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion in activity.

The index was driven by stronger client demand, which led to an expansion in output and new orders.

Markit Economics released its final manufacturing purchasing managers' index for Eurozone on Monday. Eurozone's final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 52.0 in April from 52.2 in March, up from a preliminary reading of 51.9.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion in activity.

"The Eurozone manufacturing sector continued to grow in April, but the dip in the rate of expansion will serve to check recent optimism that the ECB's quantitative easing programme has bought a guaranteed ticket to recovery for the region," the Chief Economist at Markit Economics Chris Williamson said.

Ireland and Spain were the top performers in April, while France's and Greece's manufacturing activity contracted due to falling production and job cuts.

U.S. index futures advanced before data on factory orders.

Global markets:

Hang Seng 28,123.82 -9.18 -0.03%

Shanghai Composite 4,481.59 +39.93 +0.90%

CAC 5,099.95 +53.46 +1.06%

DAX 11,617.61 +163.23 +1.43%

Stock markets in Japan and UK are closed today.

Crude oil $59.56 (+0.69%)

Gold $1182.70 (+0.69%)

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

Upgrades:

Twitter (TWTR) upgraded from Sell to Hold at Stifel

Downgrades:

Other:

Amazon (AMZN) reiterated at Outperform at Oppenheimer, target raised from $415 to $525

Walt Disney (DIS) reiterated at Outperform at RBC Capital Mkts, target raised from $110 to $120

The Swiss manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI), which is compiled by the Swiss SVME purchasing managers' association and Credit Suisse, remained unchanged at 47.9 in April.

The index declined since the Swiss National Bank (SNB) removed the 1.20 per euro exchange rate floor on January 15^th.

A reading below 50.0 indicates contraction of industrial output, a reading above 50.0 indicates expansion of industrial output.

The subindex tracking orders decreased to 46.7 in April.

The employment subindex declined to 42.1. It was lowest level since the 2009.

"An overall economic recession is unlikely," the report said.

Markit Economics released its manufacturing purchasing managers' index for Greece on Monday. The Greek manufacturing PMI dropped to 46.5 in April from 48.9 in March. It was the lowest level since June 2013.

It was the eight consecutive decline.

The fall was driven by weak demand from domestic and foreign markets.

The new orders and employment index decreased both in April due to the uncertainty over the Greek debt crisis.

Input price inflation climbed in April as raw material prices increased.

Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester said on Friday that the Fed could hike its interest rate in every monetary policy meeting. The employment reports will be indicative of a lot to her, she said.

"We're getting close to the point where it will be time to lift off," she noted.

Mester is not a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee this year.

Stock indices traded higher on final manufacturing PMIs from the Eurozone. Eurozone's final manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 52.0 in April from 52.2 in March, up from a preliminary reading of 51.9.

Germany's final manufacturing PMI decreased to 52.1 in April from 52.8 in March, up from a preliminary reading of 51.9.

France's final manufacturing PMI dropped to 48.0 in April from 48.8 in March, down a preliminary reading of 48.4.

Market research group Sentix released its investor confidence index for the Eurozone on Monday. The index fell to 19.6 in May from 20.0 in April, missing expectations for a decline to 19.8.

The Eurozone's recovery was offset by the uncertainty over the Greek debt crisis.

Stock market in the U.K. is closed for a public holiday.

Current figures:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 closed

DAX 11,603.34 +148.96 +1.30 %

CAC 40 5,081.53 +35.04 +0.69 %

Market research group Sentix released its investor confidence index for the Eurozone on Monday. The index fell to 19.6 in May from 20.0 in April, missing expectations for a decline to 19.8.

A reading above 0.0 indicates optimism, below indicates pessimism.

The Eurozone's recovery was offset by the uncertainty over the Greek debt crisis.

The current conditions index climbed to 13 in May from 9 in April. It was the highest level since February 2006.

The expectations index remained declined to 26.5 in May from 31.5 in April.

German investor confidence index dropped to 28.2 in May from 31.4 in April due to a stronger euro and mixed signals from the US economy.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final consumer sentiment index was 95.9 in April, missing expectations for a rise to 96.0, up from the preliminary estimate of 93.0.

The Surveys of Consumers chief economist at the University of Michigan Richard Curtin said the U.S. consumer sentiment index in April reached its second highest level since 2007.

"Consumer optimism has become increasingly dependent on the persistence of low inflation and low interest rates as well as slowly improving prospects for jobs and incomes," he added.

Chinese shares climbed as a bigger-than-estimated drop in a private manufacturing gauge spurred stimulus speculation. The Shanghai Composite Index climbed 0.9 percent as the final April Purchasing Managers' Index from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics fell to 48.9, the lowest in a year. Gold climbed 0.4 percent. U.S. oil was little changed.

HANG SENG 28,154.46 +21.46 +0.08%

S&P/ASX 200 5,827.5 +13.10 +0.23%

TOPIX Closed

SHANGHAI COMP 4,473.99 +32.33 +0.73%

The Institute for Supply Management released its manufacturing purchasing managers' index for the U.S. on Friday. The index remained unchanged at 51.5 in April, missing expectations for a rise to 52.0.

March's figure was revised up from 51.3.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, below indicates contraction.

The new orders index increased to 53.5 in April from 51.8 in March.

The production index increased to 56.0 in April from 53.8 in March.

The employment index decreased to 48.3 in April from 50.0 in March.

The U.S. Commerce Department released construction spending data on Friday. Construction spending in the U.S. declined 0.6% in March, missing expectations for a 0.5% gain, after a flat reading in February.

February's figure was revised up from a 0.1% decrease.

A 0.3% decline in spending on private construction weighed on construction spending.

Spending on residential construction dropped 1.6% in March, while spending on non-residential construction rose 1.0%.

Spending on federal government projects plunged 4.9%in March.

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

Nikkei 225 19,531.63 +11.62 +0.06 %

S&P/ASX 200 5,814.4 +24.42 +0.42 %

Topix 1,585.61 -7.18 -0.45 %

FTSE 100 6,985.95 +25.32 +0.36 %

CAC 40 5,046.49 +7.10 +0.14 %

Xetra DAX 11,454.38 +21.66 +0.19 %

S&P 500 2,108.29 +22.78 +1.09 %

NASDAQ Composite 5,005.39 +63.97 +1.29 %

Dow Jones 18,024.06 +183.54 +1.03 %