Demoralized. Wall Street erased its gains after a timid opening up (+0.16%). Around 4:40 p.m., the Dow Jones lost 0.75% to 10,339 points, the Nasdaq was down 0.75% to 2291 points while the S & P anbandonne 0.71% to 1107 points.
The markets were disappointed by the number of entries in the weekly unemployment rose in the United States during the week to June 12, at 472 000 460 000 cons last week, according to the Labor Department. Economists on average had 450 000 registered unemployed. The entries of the week to June 5 were also revised up from an initial estimate of 456,000.
In addition, consumer prices have suffered their worst fall in May last year and a half under the blow of sharp decline in energy costs. The index of consumer prices adjusted for seasonal variations show a decline of 0.2%, the biggest drop since December 2008.Economists and analysts were predicting a similar decline after a decline of 0.1% in April.
Still on macroeconomic statistics, the current account deficit widened in the first quarter to 109 billion dollars, or 3% of GDP, compared to fourth quarter 2009. This is his third consecutive quarterly increase since the low of $ 84.4 billion in the second quarter of 2009, when the international commercial exchange had significantly contracted due to recession.
In addition, two indicators sow confusion in the minds. The condition index of industrial activity in the Philadelphia Federal Reserve came out much lower than expected in June and called for a fragile economic recovery in the United States. The index came in at 8 in June as against 20.9 expected and 21.4 in MayThe employment component falling in the negative, at -1.5 against 3.2 in May, the lowest since November 2009.
For its part, the U.S. index of leading indicators registered a record high in May, according to the Conference Board, suggesting that the recovery of the U.S. economy will continue. The index rose 0.4% to 109.9, after having stagnated in April instant payday loan. Economists projected an increase of 0.5%.The index should continue to increase but more modestly in the coming months due to an unemployment rate still important.
Pending Brussels
The market is also attentive to the summit of European leaders in Brussels today in which they intend to tighten fiscal discipline and laying the groundwork for an economic government to reassure the markets remain concerned about the euro area and in particular the situation Spain.After Greece, Ireland and Portugal, the markets are worried because of the financial health of the country and its capacity for economic recovery after an austerity plan, despite the undertaking of structural reforms on the market work in the banking sector.
On the foreign exchange market, the euro gave ground in the morning against the greenback, passing under $ 1.23, reflecting a renewed concern.
AOL supervised
On the side of values, according to several American media, the internet group AOL (-0.22% to 22.23 dollars) is about to give the social network Bebo to an investment fund, Criterion Capital Partners, a small fraction of the price he had paid to take it two years ago.
Always on the side of values, FedEx (+0.20% to 78.23 dollars) Wednesday reported a quarterly profit slightly above expectations.
Also note Apple (1.31% to 270.75 U.S. dollars) which said it had registered more than 600,000 bookings for the new version of the iPhone during the first day of marketing.
JM Smucker (6.29% to 61.38 dollars), a group specializing in food, has reported a turnover of 1.07 billion dollars for its fourth fiscal quarter and a Earnings per share (EPS) of $ 1.07 before exceptional items.
Pier 1 Imports (5.24% to 8.44 dollars) a manufacturer of furniture, for its part, reported an unexpected profit adjusted under its first fiscal quarter in favor of improving its sales business on a comparable basis and its margins.