Major US stock indexes ended the session in different directions against the background of weaker than expected statistical data on the US economy, which forced investors to more carefully assess the nearest prospects for tightening the monetary policy of the Fed.

The Ministry of Labor said that consumer prices in April rose slightly, becoming a sign that inflationary pressures are stabilizing this spring. The consumer price index rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.2% compared with March. Excluding the volatile categories of food and energy, so-called base prices, rose just 0.1% since March. Economists had expected that both general and basic prices would grow by 0.2% per month. On an annualized basis, consumer spending grew by 2.2%, which was the second monthly increase on an annualized basis. Prices increased by 1.9% year-on-year, except for food and energy prices. This was the first time that the annual increase in basic prices was below 2% since October 2015.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Commerce said retail sales improved in April, suggesting that in spring this year significant consumer spending in the US should contribute to broader economic growth. Sales in US stores, restaurants and online stores increased seasonally by 0.4% in April compared with the previous month. However, economists had expected an increase of 0.6%. This was the strongest increase in sales for three months, and positive changes in previous data were also noted. March sales rose 0.1%, and sales in February decreased by 0.2%.

Excluding sales of cars and auto parts, sales increased by 0.3% compared to March. Economists had expected growth of 0.5%. Excluding both cars and gasoline, sales also rose 0.3% last month compared with March. Compared to the previous year, the total sales volume in April increased by 4.5%.

Most components of the DOW index showed a decrease (23 of 30). Most fell shares of General Electric Company (GE, -2.35%). Leader of growth were shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL, + 1.29%).

The sectors of the S & P index ended the session mixed. The sector of industrial goods fell most of all (-0.8%). The leader of growth was the utilities sector (+ 0.5%).

At closing:

Dow -0.11% 20,896.61 -22.81

Nasdaq + 0.09% 6.121.23 + 5.27

S & P -0.15% 2,390.90 -3.54

U.S. stock-index futures were flat as investors assessed a raft of macro data to gauge the strength of the economy.

Stocks:

Nikkei 19,883.90 -77.65 -0.39%

Hang Seng 25,156.34 +30.79 +0.12%

Shanghai 3,083.36 +21.86 +0.71%

S&P/ASX 5,836.90 -41.44 -0.70%

FTSE 7,407.10 +20.47 +0.28%

CAC 5,389.17 +5.75 +0.11%

DAX 12,729.34 +18.28 +0.14%

Crude $47.89 (+0.13%)

Gold $1,229.10 (+0.40%)

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

Upgrades:

Downgrades:

General Electric (GE) downgraded to Sell from Hold at Deutsche Bank

Other:

Apple (AAPL) target raised to $180 from $155 at BofA/Merrill

Apple (AAPL) target raised to $170 from $164 at Goldman

European stocks dropped Thursday, pulling back from a 21-month high, with the market coming under pressure as the euro marched higher in the wake of a lackluster economic outlook for the British economy.

U.S. stocks retreated Thursday as retail stocks slumped on disappointing earnings from Macy's Inc. M, -17.01% which weighed on the consumer discretionary sector. Performance of consumer discretionary stocks is often viewed as a reflection of consumers' confidence in the economy as companies in the sector manufacture non-essential goods that are sensitive to economic cycles.

Stock markets across Asia were broadly down early Friday, tracking overnight weakness in Europe and the U.S. amid disappointing earnings reports. In Japan, stocks were hit by 0.5% gain in the yen against the U.S. dollar over the last day, making the country's exports less competitive.

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

Nikkei +61.46 19961.55 +0.31%

TOPIX +1.67 1586.86 +0.11%

Hang Seng +110.13 25125.55 +0.44%

CSI 300 +18.95 3356.65 +0.57%

Euro Stoxx 50 -22.19 3623.55 -0.61%

FTSE 100 +1.39 7386.63 +0.02%

DAX -46.40 12711.06 -0.36%

CAC 40 -17.04 5383.42 -0.32%

DJIA -23.69 20919.42 -0.11%

S&P 500 -5.19 2394.44 -0.22%

NASDAQ -13.18 6115.97 -0.22%

S&P/TSX -82.66 15550.55 -0.53%