Major US stock indexes finished trading mostly in positive territory, as a significant increase in shares of the conglomerate sector was compensated by the drop in quotations of the sector of industrial goods and the base materials sector.

In addition, the results of the survey indicated a sharp improvement in business activity in the US manufacturing sector. The last PMI value was the highest since September 2014, supported by stronger expansions and new orders. In addition, the new business has risen at the strongest pace for more than three and a half years. Meanwhile, the inflation rates of purchasing and selling prices have accelerated to the highest levels since mid-2011. The seasonally adjusted final purchasing managers index (PMI) in the US industry from IHS Markit rose to 56.5 in April, compared to 55.6 in March, and indicated the strongest growth in manufacturing activity in three and a half years. The rate of improvement was also significantly higher than the long-term average.

At the same time, the report from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) showed that in April, activity in the US manufacturing sector decreased more than forecasted. The PMI index for the manufacturing sector fell to 57.3 points against 59.3 points in March. Analysts had expected the figure to drop to 58.3.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in the red (22 of 30). The outsider was Pfizer (PFE, -3.56%). The leader of growth was shares of Intel Corporation (INTC, + 3.41%).

Most sectors of the S & P recorded a rise. The conglomerate sector grew most (+ 1.8%). The sector of industrial goods showed the greatest decrease (-0.7%).

At closing:

Dow 24,099.05 -64.10 -0.27%

S&P 500 2,654.80 +6.75 +0.25%

Nasdaq 100 7,130.70 +64.44 +0.91%

U.S. stock-index futures were flat on Tuesday, as investors remained cautious ahead of tonight's earnings release from Apple (AAPL; +0.4%) and tomorrow's announcement of the outcomes of the Federal Open Market Committee's May meeting.

Global Stocks:

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

Apple (AAPL) initiated with Buy at DA Davidson; target $220

McDonald's (MCD) target raised to $168 from $165 at Stifel

Facebook (FB) added to Best Ideas List at Wedbush

Pfizer (PFE) reported Q1 FY 2018 earnings of $0.77 per share (versus $0.69 in Q1 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.74.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $12.906 bln (+1.0% y/y), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $13.138 bln.

The company also reaffirmed its guidance for FY 2018, projecting EPS of $2.90-3.00 (versus analysts' consensus estimate of $2.95) at revenues of $53.5-55.5 bln (versus analysts' consensus estimate of $54.45 bln).

PFE fell to $35.98 (-1.72%) in pre-market trading.

Merck (MRK) reported Q1 FY 2018 earnings of $1.05 per share (versus $0.88 in Q1 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.00.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $10.037 bln (+6.4% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $10.088 bln.

The company also raised guidance for FY 2018, projecting EPS of $4.16-4.28 (compared to its prior forecast of $4.08-4.23 and analysts' consensus estimate of $4.19) and revenue of $41.8-43.0 bln (compared to its prior forecast of $41.2-42.7 bln and analysts' consensus estimate of $41.86 bln).

MRK rose to $58.90 (+0.05%) in pre-market trading.