Major US stock indices fell mainly on Friday, weighed down by the drop in shares in the technology sector and the consumer goods segment. In addition, the course of trading affected the controversial results of the parliamentary elections in Britain, which took place the day before.

According to the exit polls, the Conservative Party has not yet gained a majority. Now the Conservatives have 318 seats in the parliament, and for the majority they need 8 seats more. Their main opponents - Laborites - strengthen their positions, they have 267 seats. Meanwhile, the BBC officially announced that the result of the elections was a suspended parliament. However, the media reported that the Conservative Party and the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland (DUP) have agreed to create a coalition that will allow May to remain prime minister. The DUP Party received mandates for 10 seats in the parliament, as a result of which May will be able to obtain an absolute majority.

In addition, today it became known that wholesale stocks in the US fell more strongly in April than previously estimated by the government, publishing their biggest drop in more than a year, while sales also fell sharply. The Ministry of Trade reported that wholesale stocks fell by 0.5 percent in April after an increase of 0.1 percent in March. Last month, the Mintorg reported that wholesale stocks fell by 0.3 percent in April. Vehicle inventories declined by 1.4 percent, while oil inventories fell by 5.0 percent, their largest decline since December 2015. The stock of paper fell by 1.8 percent, and this was the largest decline in the category since January 2013. Wholesale stocks of electrical goods also fell by 0.1 percent, while equipment stocks were unchanged. At the sales level in April, wholesalers would need 1.28 months to clear the shelves, the figure has not changed since March.

Gradually, market participants switch their attention to the meeting of the US Federal Reserve, which is scheduled for 13-14 June. According to the futures market, the probability of an increase in the Fed rate at the meeting in June is 99.6% against 94.6% the previous day and 92.3% a week earlier (June 2).

Most components of the DOW index recorded a rise (21 out of 30). Most fell shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL, -4.31%). Leader of growth were the shares of Pfizer Inc. (PFE, + 3.10%).

The sectors of the S & P index showed mixed dynamics. The leader of growth was the sector of basic materials (+ 1.2%). The technological sector fell the most (-2.4%).

At closing:

DJIA + 0.42% 21,271.97 +89.44

Nasdaq -1.80% 6,207.92 -113.84

S & P -0.08% 2.431.77 -2.02

U.S. stock-index futures were flat as investors eyed results of the UK general elections.

Stocks:

Nikkei 20,013.26 +104.00 +0.52%

Hang Seng 26,030.29 -32.77 -0.13%

Shanghai 3,158.75 +8.41 +0.27%

S&P/ASX 5,677.80 +1.21 +0.02%

FTSE 7,492.68 +42.70 +0.57%

CAC 5,286.47 +22.23 +0.42%

DAX 12,764.48 +50.90 +0.40%

Crude $45.57 (-0.15%)

Gold $1,273.50 (-0.47%)

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

McDonald's (MCD) initiated with a Buy at Mizuho

Yahoo! (YHOO) target raised to $70 from $58 at BofA/Merrill

Citigroup (C) upgraded to Neutral from Sell at UBS

European stocks tilted lower at the end of trade Thursday, as investors assessed the European Central Bank's policy stance while they waited for results from the U.K.'s general election. Most major regional indexes darted in and out of positive territory during the day. Overall, utility, financial and basic material shares fared the best, while consumer-related, telecom and health care stocks fell.

U.S. stocks notched meager gains Thursday, but the Nasdaq closed at a record after former FBI Director James Comey's appearance in front of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee concluded without any significant revelations.

Asian stocks started Friday trading mixed, in a wait-and-see mode as exit polls suggested the U.K.'s governing Conservative party failed to keep its parliamentary majority in Thursday's general election there. The polls sent the pound down some 2% versus other currencies, but moves in other markets have been muted. S&P 500 futures were recently down 0.1%.

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

Nikkei -75.36 19909.26 -0.38%

TOPIX -6.68 1590.41 -0.42%

Hang Seng +88.90 26063.06 +0.34%

CSI 300 +27.11 3560.98 +0.77%

Euro Stoxx 50 +15.04 3563.88 +0.42%

FTSE 100 -28.64 7449.98 -0.38%

DAX +41.09 12713.58 +0.32%

CAC 40 -1.29 5264.24 -0.02%

DJIA +8.84 21182.53 +0.04%

S&P 500 +0.65 2433.79 +0.03%

NASDAQ +24.39 6321.77 +0.39%

S&P/TSX +50.94 15423.08 +0.33%