US markets once again made a mixed closing on the last trading day of the week as the worries about the European crisis remained on forefront and overshadowed the enthusiasm of a better-than-expected report on US payrolls. The government said that the unemployment rate fell in December to 8.5 percent, its lowest level in nearly three years, while US employers added 200,000 jobs. But the major concern for the markets remained the Euro zone, as Fitch Ratings cut Hungary’s credit rating by one notch, pushing it into junk territory. Though, Hungary doesn’t use the euro as its currency, but it reminded about Europe's overall debt problems. Also, Italy’s borrowing costs spiked back up to dangerous levels, signalling fear the nation might default.
Meanwhile, two top Federal Reserve officials on Friday pushed the case for more stimulus from the US central bank to help the economic recovery. The Fed has bought Treasury debt and, to a lesser extent, mortgage-backed securities as part of its so-called quantitative easing efforts over the last three years, totalling $2.3 trillion in purchases.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed lower by 56 points, or 0.5 percent, at 12,360. The S&P 500 was down by 3 points, or 0.3 percent, at 1,278, while the Nasdaq closed up 4 points, or 0.2 percent, at 2,674.
Indian ADRs closed mixed on Friday, HDFC Bank was down by 0.41%, ICICI Bank was down by 0.56%, Tata Motors was down by 0.05% and Infosys was down by 0.09%.
On the other hand MTNL was up by 0.02%, Dr Reddy’s was up by 0.63% and Wipro was up by 0.01%.
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