Major US stock indices rose sharply, as Apple's stock appreciation gave an impetus to the technology sector, and Boeing raised sentiment with an optimistic outlook. The market was also supported by data on the US labor market and the results of the Fed meeting.

According to the ADP report, employment in the private sector in January rose by 213,000, after rising by 263,000 jobs in December, revised downward. Economists had expected employment to increase by 178,000, compared with a sharp increase of 271,000, reported in the previous month.

As for the Fed meeting, as expected, the Central Bank left interest rates unchanged, and signaled the suspension of further rate increases. Recall that last month the Fed raised rates to 2.25% -2.5%, having planned three more increases for the current year. In its accompanying statement on the results of the January meeting, the Central Bank also paid attention to plans to reduce its balance of assets, and demonstrated its readiness to approach the process of reducing balance more flexibly in the event of a worsening economic situation. Meanwhile, Fed Chairman Powell said that the second suspension of the government’s work can have a long-term economic effect, as it can provoke a loss of confidence in the government.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in positive territory (27 of 30). The growth leader was Apple Inc. (AAPL, + 6.83%). Walmart Inc. shares turned out to be an outsider. (WMT, -1.97%).

All sectors of the S & P recorded an increase. The largest growth was shown by the consumer goods sector (+ 1.9%) and the technology sector (+ 1.9%).

At the time of closing:

Index

Dow 25,014.86 +434.90 +1.77%

S & P 500 2,681.05 +41.05 +1.55%

Nasdaq 100 7.183.08 +154.79 +2.20%

Before the bell: S&P futures +0.48%, NASDAQ futures +1.01%

U.S. stock-index rose on Wednesday, as investors cheered Boeing (BA) and Apple’s (AAPL) earnings results, while awaiting the Federal Reserve’s monetary-policy decision and another round of U.S.-China trade talks.

Global Stocks:

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

Amazon (AMZN) target lowered to $2000 at The Benchmark Company

McDonald's (MCD) reported Q4 FY 2018 earnings of $1.97 per share (versus $1.71 in Q4 FY 2017), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $1.89.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $5.163 bln (-3.3% y/y), generally in line with analysts’ consensus estimate of $5.165 bln.

MCD fell to $182.05 (-0.07%) in pre-market trading.

AT&T (T) reported Q4 FY 2018 earnings of $0.86 per share (versus $0.78 in Q4 FY 2017), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.84.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $47.993 bln (+15.2% y/y), missing analysts’ consensus estimate of $48.496 bln.

T fell to $29.77 (-3.03%) in pre-market trading.

Boeing (BA) reported Q4 FY 2018 earnings of $5.48 per share (versus $3.04 in Q4 FY 2017), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $4.55.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $28.341 bln (+14.4% y/y), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $26.764 bln.

The company also issued upside guidance for FY 2019, projecting EPS of $19.90-20.10 (versus analysts’ consensus estimate of $18.41) and revenues of $109.5-111.5 bln (versus analysts’ consensus estimate of $106.72 bln).

BA rose to $387.00 (+6.05%) in pre-market trading.

Apple (AAPL) reported Q1 FY 2019 earnings of $4.18 per share (versus $3.89 in Q1 FY 2018), beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $4.17.

The company’s quarterly revenues amounted to $84.310 bln (-4.5% y/y), generally in line with analysts’ consensus estimate of $83.999 bln.

The company also issued guidance for Q2 FY 2019, projecting revenues of $55-59 bln versus analysts’ consensus estimate of $58.97 bln.

AAPL rose to $162.90 (+5.31%) in pre-market trading.