Major US stock indices rose slightly amid expectations that the United States and China could make a deal during ongoing trade negotiations.

“So far, so good,” said US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin about the talks in Beijing today. The day before, American President Donald Trump announced his readiness to postpone the March deadline to conclude a trade agreement with China if the two countries were close to an agreement. The South China Morning Post reported Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with US delegates, including Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin and sales representative Robert Lighthizer, on Friday, and both sides will try to make a deal. In case of failure of negotiations, tariffs for Chinese goods in the United States will be increased.

The focus of investors is another deadline - Friday - before which the Congress should adopt a bill that will avoid the next partial closure of the US government. Trump said on Tuesday that he was not happy with this proposal, but added that he would study its details. Today, there were reports that Trump plans to sign an agreement on border security to avoid another partial closure of the government.

Market participants also studied inflation data for January. A report from the Department of Labor showed that consumer prices in the United States did not change in January for the third month in a row. Economists had expected consumer prices to rise 0.1%. On an annualized basis, consumer price index growth was 1.6%, which is lower than the previous value of 1.9%, but 1.5% higher than economists' forecast. Excluding food and energy prices, consumer prices rose 0.2% on a monthly basis for the fifth month in a row. The rise in base prices coincided with the estimates of economists. In the 12 months to January, the so-called base consumer price index rose by 2.2% for the third month in a row.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in positive territory (24 out of 30). The growth leader was 3M Company (MMM, + 1.54%). Outsider were shares of Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO, -0.82%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P recorded an increase. The sector of conglomerates grew the most (+ 1.1%). The decrease was shown only by the utility sector (-0.3%).

At the time of closing:

Dow 25,543.27 +117.51 +0.46%

S & P 500 2,753.03 +8.30 +0.30%

Nasdaq 100 7,420.38 +5.76 +0.08%

Before the bell: S&P futures +0.31%, NASDAQ futures +0.49%

U.S. stock-index rose on Wednesday, helped hopes that Chinese and U.S. trade authorities would reach a trade deal.

Global Stocks:

Wall Street. Stocks before the bell

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

Ford Motor (F) initiated with a Neutral at Seaport Global Securities

General Motors (GM) initiated with a Buy at Seaport Global Securities

Twitter (TWTR) target raised to $42 from $30 at BTIG Research

Deere (DE) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BofA/Merrill; target $170

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) upgraded to Overweight from Equal-Weight at Morgan Stanley

Barrick Gold Corp. (GOLD) reported Q4 FY 2018 earnings of $0.06 per share (versus $0.22 in Q4 FY 2017), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.05.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $1.904 bln (-14.5% y/y), missing analysts’ consensus estimate of $1.968 bln.

GOLD fell to $13.09 (-2.09%) in pre-market trading.