US markets made a mixed close despite good economic data

05 Jan 2012 Evaluate

The US markets closed on a mixed note on Wednesday, as European worries weighed on good economic reports.In late trade improved sales at retailers and carmakers helped bolster confidence in the economy which helped assuage concern about Europe’s debt troubles. US retailers’ December sales likely ended on a solid note after last-minute holiday shopping and stepped-up promotions helped salvage a sales lull in the first half of the month. The International Council of Shopping Centers trade group raised its December sales forecast by 0.5 percentage points to a gain in the range of 4% to 4.5% after sales in the week ending Dec. 31 rose 5.3% - their fastest pace since the week ending July 11, 2010. Also, Automobile makers had one of their best Decembers in years as strong sales growth helped fuel a big turnaround for much of the industry. The US government reported that US factory orders rose 1.8% in November.

Moreover, there are more important economic reports coming in the next two days which investors are optimistic, with Automatic Data Processing to release its employment report on Thursday, just ahead of weekly jobless claims data from the US government. On Friday, the nonfarm payrolls report for December is due. Besides in Europe, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government may apply for loans from the European Union’s rescue fund and the International Monetary Fund to help restructure the country’s financial industry.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 21.04 points, or 0.17 percent, to 12,418.40. The Standard and Poor’s 500 closed higher by 0.24 points, or 0.02 percent, to 1,277.30, while the Nasdaq composite lost 0.36 points, or 0.01 percent, to 2,648.36.

The Indian ADRs closed on a mixed note on Wednesday, Infosys Technologies was down 0.25%, Dr. Reddy’s Lab was down 0.22% and Wipro was down 0.18%. On the flip side, Tata Motors was up by 0.68% and HDFC Bank was up 0.14%.

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