Major US stock indexes fell slightly against the background of an ambiguous reaction of market participants to a new block of quarterly reporting companies, including such giants as Boeing (BA), Caterpillar (CAT) and AT & T (T), as well as before publishing the results of Facebook (FB) and Microsoft ( MSFT) after the close of the trading session.

Boeing (BA) reported receiving adjusted earnings of $ 3.16 per share, which was below the analysts' average forecast of $ 3.19. The company's revenue also turned out to be slightly lower than the market forecast. The company also announced that its previously announced forecast for the whole 2019 is no longer relevant, since it does not take into account the impact of the situation with 737 MAX, and has suspended its own share repurchase program. Despite this, BA shares rose 0.16%.

Caterpillar (CAT) reported adjusted quarterly earnings of $ 2.94 per share, which was $ 0.08 above the average forecast of analysts. The revenue of the heavy equipment manufacturer also exceeded analysts' estimates. However, CAT shares fell by 3.21%, as the report indicated a decline in construction revenue in the Asia-Pacific region, one of the company's key markets.

Both the profit and revenue of AT & T (T) fell short of analysts' expectations. Nevertheless, the company reported an unexpected increase in the number of wireless users, and also announced that by the end of the year it would pay off 75% of the debt incurred as part of the deal with Time Warner. T shares fell by 4.07%.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in positive territory (18 out of 30). Caterpillar Inc. shares turned out to be an outsider. (CAT; -3.14%). The growth leader was The Walt Disney Company (DIS; + 1.66%).

Almost all sectors of the S & P recorded a decline. The utilities sector grew the most (+ 0.4%). The largest decline was in the commodity sector (-1.7%).

At the time of closing:

Dow 26,597.66 -58.73 -0.22%

S & P 500 2,927.26 -6.42 -0.22%

Nasdaq 100 8,102.02 -18.81 -0.23%

U.S. stock-index futures traded flat on Wednesday after the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq closed at record highs in the previous session, with investors

digestin a fresh batch of earnings reports from some U.S. companies, including such bellwethers as Boeing (BA), Caterpillar (CAT) and AT&T (T).

Global Stocks:

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

Twitter (TWTR) target raised to $44 from $33 at Oppenheimer

Procter & Gamble (PG) downgraded to Sell from Hold at DZ Bank

Procter & Gamble (PG) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays; target raised to $112

Snap (SNAP) upgraded to In-line from Underperform at Evercore ISI

Snap (SNAP) upgraded to Neutral from Underweight at JP Morgan; target raised to $11

AT&T (T) reported Q1 FY 2019 earnings of $0.86 per share (versus $0.85 in Q1 FY 2018), missing analysts’ consensus of $0.87.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $44.827 bln (+17.8% y/y), missing analysts’ consensus estimate of $45.205 bln.

T fell to $31.40 (-2.18%) in pre-market trading.

Caterpillar (CAT) reported Q1 FY 2019 earnings of $2.94 per share (versus $2.82 in Q1 FY 2018), beating analysts’ consensus of $2.86.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $13.466 bln (+4.7% y/y), generally in line with analysts’ consensus estimate of $13.356 bln.

The company also reaffirmed guidance for FY 2019, projecting EPS of $11.75-12.75 versus analysts’ consensus estimate of $12.29.

CAT rose to $142.35 (+0.23%) in pre-market trading.

United Micro (UMC) reported Q1 FY 2019 earnings of $0.02 per share (versus $0.28 in Q1 FY 2018), beating analysts’ consensus of -$0.09.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $32.580 bln (-13.1% y/y), generally in line with analysts’ consensus estimate of $32.756 bln.

UMC fell to $1.78 (-7.77%) in pre-market trading.

Boeing (BA) reported Q1 FY 2019 earnings of $3.16 per share (versus $3.64 in Q1 FY 2018), missing analysts’ consensus of $3.19.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $22.917 bln (-2.0% y/y), generally in line with analysts’ consensus estimate of $23.044 bln.

The company also suspended its previously issued FY 2019 guidance, saying that it does not reflect 737 MAX impacts. The new guidance will be issued at a future date.

BA rose to $377.99 (+1.06%) in pre-market trading.

eBay (EBAY) reported Q1 FY 2019 earnings of $0.67 per share (versus $0.53 in Q1 FY 2018), beating analysts’ consensus of $0.63.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $2.643 bln (+2.4% y/y), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $2.580 bln.

The company also issued guidance for Q2, projecting EPS of $0.61-$0.63 (versus analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.60) and revenues of $2.64-$2.69 bln (versus analysts’ consensus estimate of $2.65 bln).

For FY 2019, the company sees EPS of $2.64-$2.70 (versus analysts’ consensus estimate of $2.67) and revenues of $10.83-$10.93 bln (versus analysts’ consensus estimate of $10.85 bln).

EBAY rose to $38.01 (+3.65%) in pre-market trading.

Snap (SNAP) reported Q1 FY 2019 losses of $0.10 per share (versus -$0.17 in Q1 FY 2018), $0.02 better than analysts’ consensus of -$0.12.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $0.320 bln (+38.9% y/y), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.306 bln.

The company also issued in-line guidance for Q2, projecting revenues of $0.335-0.360 bln versus analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.347 bln.

SNAP rose to $12.60 (+5.09%) in pre-market trading.