Major US stock indices predominantly declined, as market participants showed caution in anticipation of the start of the corporate reporting season.

JPMorgan and Wells Fargo will start the reporting season tomorrow, announcing their results before the start of the trading session. Analysts warn that the upcoming quarterly reporting season may be the first to show a decline in corporate segment profits from 2016.

Pessimistic economic growth forecasts from global central banks put pressure on the market. The minutes of the March meeting of the Federal Reserve System (Fed) on Wednesday showed that interest rates this year are likely to remain unchanged, given the risks to the US economy due to the slowdown and uncertainty regarding trade policy and financial situation.

However, further decline was limited by favorable reports on trade negotiations between the US and China. According to the Wall Street Journal, China made new concessions and agreed to open its cloud computing sector to foreign companies.

In addition, the focus of market participants was the March data on producer price index and weekly statistics on primary applications for unemployment benefits. The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped to a 49.5-year low last week, indicating a steady strength in the labor market that could withstand fears of a sharp slowdown in economic growth. Meanwhile, the US Department of Labor reported that producer prices rose at a maximum rate in five months in March, while the producer price index for final demand rose by 0.6%, which was caused by a rise in gasoline prices. Despite the larger than expected increase in the overall index, basic wholesale inflation was low-key.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in positive territory (18 out of 30). Outsider - UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH; -4.28%). The growth leader is The Boeing Company (BA; + 1.48%).

Most sectors of the S & P recorded an increase. The industrial goods sector grew the most (+ 0.8%). The largest decline was shown by the health sector (-1.2%).

At the time of closing:

Dow 26,143.05 -14.11 -0.05%

S & P 500 2,888.32 +0.11 +0.00%

Nasdaq 100 7,947.36 -16.89 -0.21%

U.S. stock-index traded flat on Thursday, as market remained in a wait-and-see mode in front of the 1Q earnings reporting season, which starts in tomorrow.

Global Stocks:

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

Apple (AAPL) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse; target $209

HP (HPQ) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse; target $21

IBM (IBM) initiated with an Outperform at Credit Suisse; target $173

Tesla (TSLA) target lowered to $240 from $270 at ROTH Capital