Major US stock indexes finished trading in negative territory amid falling industrial and health sector shares.

The focus of investors' attention was also data on the United States. As it became known, the index of purchasing managers in Chicago increased by 0.2 points to 57.6 in April, compared to 57.4 in March, cutting off the three-month negative trend. In April, business activity continued to grow at a solid pace, while the growth of business operations accelerated for the first time this year. 3 of the 5 components of the index fell, only the sub-indices of products and supplies of suppliers increased.

In addition, the index of unfinished transactions for the sale of housing from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) rose in March by 0.4% to 107.6. The index rose for the second month in a row, but remained the third consecutive month below the level of the previous year. Economists forecast an increase of 0.6%. Expected sales in the Northeast fell by 5.6% in March, while in the West it decreased by 1.1%. In the Midwest, expected sales increased by 2.4%, and in the South - by 2.5%.

Most of the components of DOW finished trading in the red (22 of 30). Outsider were the shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ, -3.67%). The leader of growth was the shares of McDonald's Corporation (MCD, + 5.00%).

Most S & P sectors recorded a decline. The health sector showed the greatest decline (-0.9%). The sector of conglomerates grew the most (+ 0.8%),

At closing:

Index

Dow 24,163.15 -148.04 -0.61%

S&P 500 2,648.05 -21.86 -0.82%

Nasdaq 100 7,066.27 -53.53 -0.75%

U.S. stock-index futures rose moderately on Monday, supported by strong corporate earnings and signs of M&A activity.

Global Stocks:

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

Altria (MO) upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital Mkts

McDonald's (MCD) reported Q1 FY 2018 earnings of $1.79 per share (versus $1.47 in Q1 FY 2017), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $1.67.

The company's quarterly revenues amounted to $5.139 bln (-9.5% y/y), beating analysts' consensus estimate of $4.966 bln.

MCD rose to $164.79 (+4.10%) in pre-market trading.

April 30

Before the Open:

McDonald's (MCD). Consensus EPS $1.67, Consensus Revenues $4966.49 mln.

May 1

Before the Open:

Merck (MRK). Consensus EPS $1.00, Consensus Revenues $10088.40 mln.

Pfizer (PFE). Consensus EPS $0.74, Consensus Revenues $13138.05 mln.

After the Close:

Apple (AAPL). Consensus EPS $2.68, Consensus Revenues $61016.17 mln.

May 2

Before the Open:

MasterCard (MA). Consensus EPS $1.24, Consensus Revenues $3255.37 mln.

After the Close:

American Intl (AIG). Consensus EPS $1.27, Consensus Revenues $11588.37 mln.

Tesla (TSLA). Consensus EPS -$3.52, Consensus Revenues $3300.13 mln.

May 3

Before the Open:

DowDuPont (DWDP). Consensus EPS $1.10, Consensus Revenues $21297.45 mln.

U.K. stocks moved higher Friday, extending a run of weekly wins, as the pound slid to a seven-week low after disappointing data on British economic growth. In the first quarter, the U.K. logged its slowest rate of economic growth since 2012, official figures showed, widely undershooting analysts' forecasts and significantly lowering expectations of a Bank of England rate rise next month.

U.S. stock benchmarks closed out Friday little changed, and booked modest losses, as investors expressed muted enthusiasm following strong corporate results, even from some of the market's biggest and most influential companies.

Asia-Pacific stocks started the week higher, led by financial stocks in Hong Kong and Singapore as markets in China and Japan are closed for holidays.