The major US stock markets closed mixed, as the fall in crude oil prices put pressure on energy companies, and offset the growth of the technology sector and the conglomerate sector. The pressure on the market also exerted uncertainty related to the situation in the trade.

Investors also continued to analyze corporate reporting. Most companies have already reported on the results for the last quarter.

Oil prices fell by about 3.5% after the data on China's imports underscored the continued slowdown in demand from the largest consumer. However, evidence of the fall in oil reserves in the US and the introduction of Iranian sanctions provided some price support. Imports of crude oil by China rebounded slightly in July after falling during the previous two months, but it was still one of the lowest this year due to a decrease in demand from small independent refineries in the country. Deliveries of crude oil to China in July amounted to 36.02 million tons or 8.48 million barrels per day, an increase from 8.18 million barrels per day a year earlier and from 8.36 million barrels a day in June, customs data showed.

Components DOW completed the auction mixed (15 in positive territory, 15 in negative territory). The leader of growth was the shares of McDonald's Corporation (MCD, + 1.85%). Outsider were shares of The Walt Disney Company (DIS, -2.21%).

Most S & P sectors recorded a decline. The largest drop was shown by the sector of industrial goods (-0.5%). The sector of conglomerates grew most (+ 0.3%),

At closing:

Dow 25,583.75 -45.16 -0.18%

S&P 500 2,857.70 -0.75 -0.03%

Nasdaq 100 7,888.33 +4.66 +0.06%

U.S. stock-index futures fell slightly on Wednesday, as concerns over escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China overshadowed a strong second-quarter earnings season.

Global Stocks:

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

Walt Disney (DIS) target lowered to $121 from $123 at B. Riley FBR

Snap (SNAP) reported Q2 FY 2018 loss of $0.14 per share (versus -$0.16 in Q2 FY 2017), $0.03 better than analysts' consensus estimate of -$0.17.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $0.262 bln (+44.4% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.250 bln.

The company also issued guidance for Q3, projecting Q3 revenues of $265-290 mln versus analysts' consensus estimate of $289.59 mln.

SNAP fell to $12.96 (-1.22%) in pre-market trading.

Disney (DIS) reported Q3 FY 2018 earnings of $1.87 per share (versus $1.58 in Q3 FY 2017), missing analysts' consensus estimate of $1.95.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $15.228 bln (+7.0% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $15.342 bln.

DIS fell to $115.50 (-0.91%) in pre-market trading.