On Friday, the major US stock indexes finished trading mostly in positive territory. Investors analyzed fresh economic data, as well as followed the comments of several representatives of the Fed.

As it became known, the US private sector enterprises registered yet another confident expansion of business activity in June, but the loss of momentum was noted since May. The preliminary PMI from IHS Markit fell from 53.6 to 53.0 in June. The last reading meant the slowest growth in business activity in three months. In addition, in May, sales of new buildings in the US rose, and the drop in sales in the previous month was not as dramatic as previously reported. The Ministry of Commerce reported that sales of new buildings rose 2.9% to 710,000 units, taking into account seasonal fluctuations last month.

As for the statements of Fed officials, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Bullard spoke in favor of maintaining rates at the current level, and noted that the US is unlikely to face a significant increase in inflationary pressures. "The US economy continues to exist in conditions of slow growth, slow inflation and low rates," Bullard said, "The Fed's current policy is likely to remain relevant within the forecast horizon."

Meanwhile, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank Cleveland Mester expressed confidence in further acceleration of inflation towards the target level of the Central Bank in 2%, and added that she supports another rate increase this year. "Inflation is gradually returning to an annual rate of 2%." Based on fundamental factors, it does not seem that demand is weakening, despite a pair of weak inflation reports, "Mester said.

Most components of the DOW index recorded a rise (17 out of 30). Leader of growth were shares of Visa Inc. (V, + 1.75%). Most fell shares of The Home Depot, Inc. (HD, -2.58%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P index showed an increase. The leader of growth was the sector of basic materials (+ 0.9%). The financial sector fell most (-0.1%).

At closing:

Dow -0.01% 21,394.90 -2.39

Nasdaq + 0.46% 6.265.25 +28.56

S & P + 0.16% 2.438.30 +3.80

U.S. stock-index futures were flat as oil prices continued to edge up, while investors awaited important macroeconomic data and speeches by Federal Reserve policymakers.

Stocks:

Nikkei 20,132.67 +22.16 +0.11%

Hang Seng 25,670.05 -4.48 -0.02%

Shanghai 3,157.43 +9.98 +0.32%

S&P/ASX 5,715.88 +9.92 +0.17%

FTSE 7,424.25 -15.04 -0.20%

CAC 5,257.53 -24.40 -0.46%

DAX 12,704.30 -89.70 -0.70%

Crude $42.86 (+0.28%)

Gold $1,258.60 (+0.74%)

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

Starbucks (SBUX) initiated with an Overweight at KeyBanc Capital Mkts; target $68

Caterpillar (CAT) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank

European stocks ended marginally higher after a volatile session on Thursday, as energy shares trimmed losses on the back of a rebound in oil prices. The choppy session came as traders kept a close eye on oil prices, which entered bear-market territory earlier this week on concerns of rising production on the U.S., Nigeria and Libya. On Thursday, crude oil CLQ7, +0.40% jumped 1.6% to $43.19 a barrel, but remained volatile.

U.S. stocks reversed direction to close mostly lower Thursday as weak financials and consumer staples shares eclipsed a rally in the health-care and biotechnology sectors. Health-care stocks were among the biggest gainers, adding 1.4%, as lawmakers released a "discussion draft" of the health-care bill that aims to cut Medicaid and eliminate penalties for people who don't buy insurance, among other changes.

Increased regulatory scrutiny over the borrowings of China's most prolific overseas deal makers weighed on mainland markets Friday, as trading elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region was lackluster.

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

Nikkei -28.28 20110.51 -0.14%

TOPIX -1.18 1610.38 -0.07%

Hang Seng -20.05 25674.53 -0.08%

CSI 300 +2.38 3590.34 +0.07%

Euro Stoxx 50 +1.41 3555.76 +0.04%

FTSE 100 -8.50 7439.29 -0.11%

DAX +19.74 12794.00 +0.15%

CAC 40 +7.67 5281.93 +0.15%

DJIA -12.74 21397.29 -0.06%

S&P 500 -1.11 2434.50 -0.05%

NASDAQ +2.73 6236.68 +0.04%

S&P/TSX +71.37 15219.90 +0.47%