(index / closing price / change items /% change)

Nikkei -321.62 22068.24 -1.44

TOPIX -22.10 1768.24 -1.23

Hang Seng -423.94 30844.72 -1.36

CSI 300 -35.34 4023.64 -0.87

Euro Stoxx 50 -19.07 3438.96 -0.55

FTSE 100 -50.54 7231.91 -0.69

DAX -54.88 12435.85 -0.44

CAC 40 -23.44 5320.49 -0.44

DJIA -380.83 25029.20 -1.50

S&P 500 -30.45 2713.83 -1.11

NASDAQ -57.35 7273.01 -0.78

Major US stock indexes finished trading below zero, that the main image was caused by a fall in shares of the base materials sector and the conglomerate sector.

In addition, investors waged statistics on the United States. As it became known, economic growth in the US slowed a little more than originally expected in the fourth quarter, as the highest rates of consumer spending in three years supported imports and inventories. In the last three months of 2017, gross domestic product increased by 2.5% year-on-year, rather than the previously estimated rate of 2.6%, the Ministry of Commerce reported in its second assessment. This was a slowdown compared to growth in the third quarter by 3.2%.

In addition, Chicago's purchasing managers' index fell to 61.9 in February from 65.7 in January, to the lowest level since August 2017. Business activity continued to expand in February, although at a slower pace than in January. All five components of the index retreated a month, but despite the second consecutive monthly decline, the index is still 8% higher than in February of last year and above the average for the year 2017 - 60.8.

Also, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said that its index of expected home sales, which tracks contracts for the purchase of previously owned houses, declined in January by 4.7% compared to the previous month, to 104.6 points. This is the lowest level since October 2014, when the index was 104.1 points. Economists had expected the index to grow by 0.3%. In annual terms, unfinished transactions for the sale of housing fell by 3.8%.

Most components of the DOW index recorded a decline (26 out of 30). Outsider were shares of Caterpillar Inc. (CAT, -3.98%). The leader of growth was shares United Technologies Corporation (UTX, + 1.03%).

All sectors of S & P completed the auction in the red. The greatest decrease was shown by the base materials sector (-1.8%).

At closing:

Dow -1.50% 25,028.37 -381.66

Nasdaq -0.78% 7.273.01 -57.34

S & P -1.11% 2.713.81 -30.47

U.S. stock-index futures rose slightly on Wednesday, following big loss on Tuesday after new Fed Chairman Jerome Powell gave a semiannual testimony before the Congress.

Global Stocks:

Nikkei 22,068.24 -321.62 -1.44%

Hang Seng 30,844.72 -423.94 -1.36%

Shanghai 3,259.50 -32.57 -0.99%

S&P/ASX 6,016.00 -40.90 -0.68%

FTSE 7,278.81 -3.64 -0.05%

CAC 5,333.62 -10.31 -0.19%

DAX 12,476.33 -14.40 -0.12%

Crude $62.95 (-0.10%)

Gold $1,317.90 (-0.05%)

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

Procter & Gamble (PG) initiated with a Sell at Berenberg; target $78.50

Chevron (CVX) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at BofA/Merrill

Verizon (VZ) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at MoffettNathanson

Asia-Pacific equities were down Wednesday after an afternoon selloff in the U.S., as a roller-coaster February closes. After big gains in much of the world in January, February began with a long-awaited slide - widely attributed to rising bond yields and inflation anticipation - and though a rebound followed, the month will go down as the worst in at least a year for a number of stock benchmarks.

European stocks fell Tuesday, declining alongside U.S. stocks as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's upbeat assessment of the U.S. economy underscored concerns that the central bank will ramp up its pace of raising borrowing rates. Also in focus Tuesday was the unfolding battle to control British broadcaster Sky PLC, which has landed a roughly $31 billion buyout bid from Comcast Corp.

U.S. stocks on Tuesday ended sharply lower, with the S&P 500 index booking its worst single-session drop since early February after the market's buckled following the first public appearance for Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chairman, replacing Janet Yellen.