The main US stock indexes rose slightly, as the drop in quotations of the sector of conglomerates and the sector of basic materials was offset by an increase in other sectors. Investors also analyzed data on the US housing market, and played out the details of the minutes of the last meeting of the Fed.

As it became known, in July permits for construction and bookings of new houses decreased, but the construction of new houses continues to grow slowly and steadily, supporting a gradually improving housing market. The Ministry of Trade reported that the bookmarks for new houses were 1.16 million in July, taking into account seasonal fluctuations. This is 4.8% lower than in June, and 5.6% lower than a year ago. The result also gave way to a consensus forecast of 1.22 million units.

Meanwhile, the minutes of the Fed meeting indicated that the leaders' opinions regarding the time of the next rate increase were divided, as they were at a loss to determine the cause of weak inflation. However, they agreed to soon begin to reduce the balance of the Fed. "The slowdown in inflation has prompted some executives to suggest for the time being to refrain from further raising rates, as the Fed can afford to be patient in the current environment," the protocol said. In general, disagreements among Fed leaders made market participants question the possibility of a third Fed rate hike this year Now the Fed rate futures tracked by the CME Group indicate that investors estimate the probability of another rate increase this year at 42.0% compared to 49.3% before the release of the minutes of the FR meeting FROM.

Most components of the DOW index finished trading in positive territory (18 out of 30). The leader of growth was shares United Technologies Corporation (UTX, + 1.70%). Outsider were shares of Chevron Corporation (CVX, -1.69%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P index recorded an increase. The technological sector grew most (+ 0.4%). The greatest decrease was shown by the sector of conglomerates (-0.3%).

At closing:

DJIA +0.12% 22,024.87 +25.88

Nasdaq +0.19% 6,345.11 +12.10

S&P +0.14% 2,468.11 +3.50

U.S. stock-index futures advanced on Wednesday, as investors awaited the minutes from the Federal Reserve's July policy meeting, expecting signals about the pace of future rate increases and the Fed's assessments of the U.S. inflation outlook

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 19,753.31 +216.21 +1.11%

Nikkei 19,729.28 -24.03 -0.12%

Hang Seng 27,409.07 +234.11 +0.86%

Shanghai 3,246.62 -4.64 -0.14%

S&P/ASX 5,785.10 +27.62 +0.48%

FTSE 7,426.66 +42.81 +0.58%

CAC 5,188.04 +47.79 +0.93%

DAX 12,274.89 +97.85 +0.80%

Crude $47.59 (+0.08%)

Crude $1,278.00 (-0.13%)

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

Amazon (AMZN) initiated with Buy rating at SunTrust

Facebook (FB) initiated with Buy rating at SunTrust

Alphabet (GOOG) initiated with Buy rating at SunTrust

Twitter (TWTR) initiated with Hold rating at SunTrust

Home Depot (HD) upgraded to Outperform from Mkt Perform at Raymond James

Asian equity markets lacked direction Wednesday following a rebound earlier in the week, tracking a muted performance overnight on Wall Street. The Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, -0.18% was down 0.5% as trading kicked off, with large caps succumbing to selling pressure following recent strength. Stocks were higher in Hong Kong though, with the Hang Seng Index HSI, +0.57% up 0.5%.

European stocks continued to rise on Tuesday, with investors encouraged by North Korea's decision not to follow through with its threat to attack U.S. island territory Guam following a war of words between the two nations. The Stoxx Europe 600 index SXXP, +0.09% advanced 0.1% to close at 376.50, adding to a 1.1% jump from Monday.

The Dow industrials managed to eke out a third day of gains, but overall the main benchmarks ended little changed amid better-then-expected retail sales data and an abatement of tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.02% finished up 5.28 points, or less than 0.1%, at 21,998.99, following a gain of up to 45 points earlier, with shares of Home Depot Inc. HD, -2.65% and Nike Inc. NKE, -2.04% representing the largest decliners, while American Express Co. AXP, +1.54% and Apple Inc. AAPL, +1.09% were the biggest gainers.

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

Nikkei +216.21 19753.31 +1.11%

TOPIX +17.15 1616.21 +1.07%

Hang Seng -75.27 27174.96 -0.28%

CSI 300 +11.38 3706.06 +0.31%

Euro Stoxx 50 +11.25 3461.91 +0.33%%

FTSE 100 +29.96 7383.85 +0.41%

DAX +11.92 12177.04 +0.10%

CAC 40 +18.58 5140.25 +0.36%

DJIA +5.28 21998.99 +0.02%

S&P 500 -1.23 2464.61 -0.05%

NASDAQ -7.22 6333.01 -0.11%

S&P/TSX -22.07 15097.84 -0.15%