Major US stock markets ended the trading mixed: S & P 500 and Nasdaq rose against the backdrop of a rise in the price of technology companies and media, while the Dow fell slightly against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions between the US and China.

In addition, investors analyzed a new portion of statistical data for the United States. The current account deficit in the US expanded in the first quarter, helped by the increase in imports of goods, the Commerce Department reported in a report that also indicated that US companies paid more than $ 300 billion in dividends from repatriation income. The Ministry of Trade said that the current account deficit, which measures the flow of goods, services and investments to and from the country, for the first three months of the year increased by $ 8.0 billion to $ 124.1 billion, or 2.5% of the national economy .

However, according to the National Association of Realtors, home sales in the secondary market fell for the second month in a row, as only the northeast region showed acceleration of activity. Total home sales in the secondary market decreased by 0.4% to a seasonally adjusted 5.43 million units in May from a revised 5.45 million units in April. With the decrease last month, sales are now 3.0% lower than a year ago and fell year on year for three consecutive months.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in positive territory (16 out of 30). The leader of growth was shares of Intel Corporation (INTC, + 1.12%). Outsider were the shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV, -2.42%).

Almost all sectors of S & P recorded a rise. The services sector grew most (+ 0.6%). Decrease showed only the sector of conglomerates (-0.2%).

At closing:

Dow 24,657.80 -42.41 -0.17%

S&P 500 2,767.32 +4.73 +0.17%

Nasdaq 100 7,781.52 +55.93 +0.72%

U.S. stock-index futures rose moderately on Wednesday, as fears of U.S.-China trade war eased somewhat.

Global Stocks:

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

Target price changes before the market open

Starbucks (SBUX) target lowered to $55 from $58 at Stifel

Downgrades before the market open

Starbucks (SBUX) downgraded to Equal-Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley

Starbucks (SBUX) downgraded to Market Perform at Telsey Advisory Group; target lowered to $60 from $70

Starbucks (SBUX) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at BTIG Research

Citigroup (C) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Deutsche Bank

FedEx (FDX) reported Q4 FY 2018 earnings of $5.91 per share (versus $4.25 in Q4 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $5.71.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $17.314 bln (+10.1% y/y), generally in-line with analysts' consensus estimate of $17.239 bln.

The company also issued guidance for FY 2019, projecting EPS of $17.00-17.60 (versus analysts' consensus estimate of $17.47) at revenues of +9% to ~$71.34 bln (versus analysts' consensus estimate of $69.41 bln).

FDX fell to $258.10 (-0.11%) in pre-market trading.