The major US stock indexes finished trading mostly in the red, suffering from a fall in the base materials sector and continuing concerns about trade disputes. However, some support to the market was provided by the next batch of corporate reporting.

According to FactSet, over 85% of companies from the S & P 500 have already published accounts, and their total profit in the second quarter increased by 24% compared to the same period last year.

Investors also estimated the US data. The Ministry of Labor reported that initial applications for unemployment benefits fell to 213,000 from 219,000. Economists had expected that claims for unemployment benefits would increase to 220,000 from 218,000 initially declared for the previous week. The four-week moving average was reduced to 214,250, which is 500 units less than in the previous review.

A separate report from the US Department of Labor showed that in July the producer price index remained unchanged from June. Without taking into account volatile prices for food and energy, the indicator increased by 0.1% compared to the previous month. Prices excluding food, energy and volatile trading indicators in July rose by 0.3%. Economists had expected that the index in July will grow by 0.2% compared to the previous month, as well as the base index. In annual terms, the producer price index rose by 3.3% against + 3.4% and in June. Expected to increase by 3.4%.

Components of the DOW index finished trading mixed (14 in positive territory, 16 in negative territory). Outsider were the shares of International Business Machines Corporation (IBM, -1.42%). The leader of growth was the shares of DowDuPont Inc. (DWDP, + 2.04%).

Most S & P sectors recorded a decline. The greatest decrease was shown by the base materials sector (-0.7%). The services sector grew most (+ 0.2%).

At closing:

Dow 25.509.23 -74.52 -0.29%

S&P 500 2,853.58 -4.12 -0.14%

Nasdaq 100 7,891.78 +3.46 +0.04%

U.S. stock-index futures rose slightly on Thursday, as a strong earnings season, which is currently winding down, helped overshadow concerns over trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

Global Stocks:

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

Walt Disney (DIS) target raised to $112 from $108 at Imperial Capital

21st Century Fox (FOXA) reported Q4 FY 2018 earnings of $0.57 per share (versus $0.36 in Q4 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $0.53.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $7.941 bln (+17.7% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $7.524 bln.

FOXA rose to $45.84 (+0.84%) in pre-market trading.