Major US stock indexes closed trading mixed, as investors took a break after the recent rally, triggered by stronger than expected corporate reporting and hopes for progress in trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing.

According to Refinitiv’s IBES, of the 383 S&P 500 companies that have already reported third quarter results, nearly 75% have exceeded expectations.

Recent reports of trade negotiations between the US and China provide no reason to reassure the market. US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have not yet decided on a place to sign the so-called “first phase” of a trade deal. In addition, media reported that both sides are still continuing to work on the details of the deal, which, as previously stated, could be signed later this month. According to media reports, China insists that US President Trump abolish additional tariffs on Chinese goods worth about $ 125 billion, introduced in September.

Market participants also drew attention to data from the Department of Labor, which showed that US labor productivity unexpectedly declined in the third quarter - by 0.3% after rising 2.5% in the second quarter. Performance was expected to grow by 0.9%. At the same time, unit labor costs grew by 3.6% in the third quarter after rising by 2.4% in the second quarter. Economists had expected unit labor costs to rise 2.2% from the 2.6% jump originally announced the previous month.

Most DOW components recorded an increase (20 out of 30). The biggest gainers were McDonald's Corp. (MCD; + 1.13%). The outsider was Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA; -3.31%).

S&P sectors completed bidding in different directions. The largest decline was shown in the base materials sector (-1.2%). The health sector grew the most (+ 0.3%).

At the time of closing:

Dow 27,492.56 -0.07 -0.00%

S&P 500 3,076.78 +2.16 +0.07%

Nasdaq 100 8,410.63 -24.05 -0.29%

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

NIKE (NKE) initiated with Outperform at Raymond James; target $100

Barrick (GOLD) reported Q3 FY 2019 earnings of $0.15 per share (versus $0.08 in Q3 FY 2018), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.12.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $2.678 bln (+45.8% y/y), generally in line with analysts’ consensus estimate of $2.703 bln.

GOLD rose to $16.81  (+1.63%) in pre-market trading.