Wall Street ends slightly higher
A sitting flat on the U.S. markets. At the close on Friday, the Dow is 0.42% at 10,779 points, the Nasdaq 0.09% nibbles at 2391 points. Only the S & P appears in a small decrease from 0.03% to 1166 points. After six consecutive sessions already in the green, investors take a break. Yesterday, U.S. markets had ended on a new annual record, always comforted by the status quo monetary decided by the Fed, and the reassurance of the U.S. central bank on the health of the economy.
Aujourd'ui, markets are stabilized by the publication of indicators broadly in line with their expectations:
– The consumer prices they have remained stable in February from the previous month, while analysts believed that there had been an inflation of 0.1%. In one year, they rose 2.1% in February when the consensus gave up 2.3%.These prices "still did not really threaten the prospect of a policy of low rates by the Fed," noted analysts at Charles Schwab.
– Registration for weekly unemployment benefits: they fell for the third straight week in the United States with the deposit of 457,000 benefit claims in the week ended March 13. This is slightly above that expected by analysts (consensus 455,000).
– Current accounts: the U.S. deficit widened in the fourth quarter to reach 115.6 billion dollars, according to figures released Thursday by the Commerce Department. It is equivalent to 2.9% of GDP in 2009 against 4.9% of GDP in 2008.
– The composite index of economic activity: the index is supposed to herald the changing economic conditions six months ahead, slowed his rise in February, rising by 0.1%.The increase for the eleventh consecutive month, is in line with analysts' expectations. The index had already slowed in January, with 0.3% increase.
– The index of manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region has increased by 2.3 percentage points from the previous month to $ 18.9, while analysts were waiting to 18 points. This figure reflects the fact that manufacturing in this region have seen their business grow for the seventh consecutive month, and faster than the previous month. Philadelphia is one of the first cities in the United States and one of the largest industrial centers of the country till payday cash advance .
Renewed concerns about Greece, which has sealed the morale of the European investors did not appear to influence the Americans.Tensions have been rising on Thursday about financial aid in Athens, who now wants an agreement by European leaders next week, despite misgivings German, otherwise turn to the IMF.
On the currency markets, the euro fell 0.88% to 1.3615 dollar. Oil, meanwhile, ended down 73 cents at 82.20 dollars a barrel.
Nike back to growth
On the side of values, the number one sports equipment, Nike announced after the close of Wall Street yesterday, a return to growth in sales and profits. In the third quarter of its fiscal year ended in late February), Nike has made a net profit of 496 million dollars against 244 million a year earlier on the same period. A few months before the World Cup 2010, its backlog has already greatly improved and the group expects a continuation of this trend.The sporting goods company is the star of Wall Street with higher shares of 4.92% to 74.37 dollars.
China has ordered its airlines to conduct checks of their Boeing 737 after a similar decision of U.S. authorities. The decision of the Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), which covers 400 aircraft, follows concerns about possible security problems related to a component in the tail of the aircraft. The Boeing climbed 1.66% to 70.53 dollars.
FedEx (-2.36% to 91.92 dollars) announced before market quarterly net income more than doubled to 239 million, above expectations and raised its annual forecast.Revenues also exceeded expectations, up 7% to 8.70 billion, while analysts had expected 8.37 billion dollars.
Google (+0.13% to 566.27 U.S. dollars) is currently working with Intel and Sony to develop a new generation of televisions and decoders for access to the Internet, according to an article in the New York Times.
Electronic Arts (2.81% to 18.65 dollars) will launch the final version of his golf game online Tiger Woods at the back of the champion on the greens next month, its chairman announced Wednesday.