The main US stock indexes finished trading in negative territory against the background of sell-offs across the entire spectrum of the market under the pressure of growth in yields on government bonds. Most of all lost in the value of shares of healthcare companies and the segment of industrial goods. In addition, concern with investors caused the escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula.

At the same time, weaker than expected data on employment in the private sector of the United States and initial applications for unemployment benefits had a negative impact on the expectations of market participants regarding the US employment statistics published tomorrow.

Data from Automatic Data Processing (ADP), showed that the growth rate of employment in the private sector of the US slowed in June stronger than expected. According to the report, in June the number of employed increased by 158 thousand people compared with the revised downward indicator for May at 230 thousand (originally reported growth of 253 thousand). Analysts had expected the number of employees to increase by 185 thousand.

At the same time, the data of the Ministry of Labor showed that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits unexpectedly increased for the third week in a row, probably because some automakers closed assembly plants for annual conversion in the summer. According to the report, the primary applications for unemployment benefits increased by 4000 to 248,000, taking into account seasonal fluctuations for the week of July 1. Data for the previous week was not revised. Economists predicted that initial applications for unemployment benefits will drop to 243,000 over the past week.

In addition, the US service activity index, calculated by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), rose to a level of 57.4 points in June from 56.9 in May. According to the forecast, the figure should drop to 56.5 points.

Most components of the DOW index are in the negative (27 out of 30). Outsider were shares of General Electric Company (GE, -4.10%). The leader of growth was the shares of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DD, + 0.46%).

All S & P sectors recorded a decline. The health sector fell most (-1.4%).

At closing:

DJIA -0.74% 21.320.04 -158.13

Nasdaq -1.00% 6,089.46 -61.40

S & P -0.94% 2,409.75 -22.79

Major U.S. stock-indexes fell as most stocks came under selling pressure as government bond yields surged around the globe. Almost all sectors were trading in negative territory, with the healthcare and technology underperforming. Worse-than-expected the ADP & initial claims reports struck a bleak tone for the critical non-farm payrolls report due on Friday.

Most of Dow stocks in negative area (23 of 30). Top loser - General Electric Company (GE, -1.90%). Top gainer - E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DD, +0.70%).

Almost all of S&P sectors in negative area. Top loser - Healthcare (-1.06%). Sole gainer - Basic Materials (+0.17%).

At the moment:

Dow 21337.00 -85.00 -0.40%

S&P 500 2415.00 -13.00 -0.54%

Nasdaq 100 5595.25 -56.25 -1.00%

Crude Oil 46.29 +1.16 +2.57%

Gold 1222.90 +1.20 +0.10%

U.S. 10yr 2.38 +0.05

U.S. stock-index futures fell, dragged down by technology shares, while investors assessed worse-than-expected the ADP & initial claims reports.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 19,994.06 -87.57 -0.44%

Hang Seng 25,465.22 -56.75 -0.22%

Shanghai 3,212.51 +5.38 +0.17%

S&P/ASX 5,758.76 -4.49 -0.08%

FTSE 7,324.22 -43.38 -0.59%

CAC 5,133.49 -46.61 -0.90%

DAX 12,355.37 -98.31 -0.79%

Crude $45.85 (+1.60%)

Gold $1,224.40 (+0.22%)

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

NIKE (NKE) initiated with a Outperform at Raymond James; target $71

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) resumed with a Neutral at Goldman

Exxon Mobil (XOM) resumed with a Outperform at RBC Capital Mkts; target $95

Chevron (CVX) resumed with a Underperform at RBC Capital Mkts; target $100

Barrick Gold (ABX) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at BMO Capital Markets

European stocks ended a choppy session in moderately positive territory on Wednesday, with shares of Adidas AG pushing higher after a broker upgrade, but energy companies slumping on the back of a renewed selloff in oil prices. Equities had trouble finding their footing after falling on Tuesday for the fifth time in six sessions, with risk appetite dented after North Korea said it successfully test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile.

U.S. stocks ended mostly higher Wednesday in post-holiday trade, powered by gains in technology, health-care and financial shares. Trading marked the first full session in July and follows holiday-shortened trade on Monday, with markets closed Tuesday in observance of Independence Day.

Equity markets in Asia struggled for direction early Thursday after underwhelming overnight moves in Europe and the U.S., as investors adopted a collective wait-and-see attitude. Market participants are especially concerned about the repercussions of North Korea's missile launch earlier this week, in addition to a Group of 20 meeting in Germany and Friday's U.S. jobs report.

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

Nikkei +49.28 20081.63 +0.25%

TOPIX +8.93 1618.63 +0.55%

Hang Seng +132.96 25521.97 +0.52%

CSI 300 +39.70 3659.68 +1.10%

Euro Stoxx 50 -1.06 3478.41 -0.03%

FTSE 100 +10.37 7367.60 +0.14%

DAX +16.55 12453.68 +0.13%

CAC 40 +5.20 5180.10 +0.10%

DJIA -1.10 21478.17 -0.01%

S&P 500 +3.53 2432.54 +0.15%

NASDAQ +40.80 6150.86 +0.67%

S&P/TSX +22.51 15153.12 +0.15%