Major US stock indices rose slightly against the background of heightened hopes for an early conclusion of a trade deal between the US and China, but weaker than expected US data on the labor market and activity in the service sector restrained optimism.

According to media reports, US and Chinese officials are close to concluding a trade agreement, as they were able to resolve most of the outstanding issues in their protracted trade dispute. Both countries since last year introduced additional tariffs on each other's goods worth billions of dollars.

According to the Financial Times, representatives of the United States and China still have differences over the mechanisms for implementing the agreement and monitoring its compliance. The Trump administration wants China to agree to coercive measures that ensure the country's commitment to the deal. In addition, there is no agreement on the immediate abolition of duties already imposed by Washington on Chinese goods last year. US Trade Representative Robert Leighthieser and Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin are due to meet with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He later today to continue negotiations.

A report released by ADP and Moody's Analytics showed that private sector employment rose by 129,000 in March, after a jump of 197,000 in February. Economists had expected employment to increase by 170,000 compared with the addition of 183,000 jobs originally reported in February.

Data from the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) showed that the index of business activity in the US service sector fell in March to 56.1 points compared to 59.7 points in February. The latter value was the lowest since August 2017. Analysts predicted that the index will decrease only to 58.0 points.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in positive territory (18 out of 30). The growth leader was DowDuPont Inc. (DWDP; + 2.27%). The outsider was The Boeing Co. (BA; -1.45%).

Most sectors of the S & P sector recorded a decline. The rest of the conglomerates sector decreased more (-0.9%). The greatest growth was shown by the technology sector (+ 0.6%).

At the time of closing:

Dow 26,218.13 +39.00 +0.15%

S & P 500 2,873.40 +6.16 +0.21%

Nasdaq 100 7,895.55 +46.86 +0.60%

U.S. stock-index rose on Wednesday, indicating Wall Street would resume its rally following a pause in the previous session, supported by reports about progress in U.S. China trade talks and upbeat surveys for non-manufacturing activity in China and Europe.

Global Stocks:

Wall Street. Stocks before the bell

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

DowDuPont (DWDP) initiated with a Buy at UBS; target $45

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) target lowered to $60 at Pivotal Research Group

Caterpillar (CAT) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank; target $128

Alcoa (AA) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill; target lowered to $31

Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Loop Capital