US markets end mixed on Friday; snap the week on a positive note

18 Feb 2012 Evaluate

The US markets made a mix closing on Friday but marked its weekly closing in green amid optimism that European leaders will agree on terms for a second Greek bailout. The sentiments were also encouraging with Conference Board report that its index of leading economic indicators rose for a fourth month in January. The index of leading economic indicators grew 0.4% in January, led by the interest-rate spread and manufacturing hours. This fourth consecutive gain in the leading economic indicators reflected fairly widespread strength among its components, pointing to somewhat more positive economic conditions in early 2012. However, the US economic data on consumer prices for January supported the Federal Reserve’s view that inflation remains in check. The US Labor Department reported that consumer prices rose in January at the fastest pace since September.

Besides, the Euro-area finance ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday, when US markets are closed for the Presidents Day holiday. While a second financial package for Greece is expected to be approved, negotiations have been known to unravel in the recent past. Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos expressed confidence that an agreement on the rescue can be reached when euro-nation finance chiefs meet on February 20 in Brussels. Also, European Central Bank officials suggested that the bank is preparing a plan to participate in the Greek debt swap plan as long as it is not part of the Collective Action Clause. Greece is scheduled to vote on private sector debt swap on February 21, a day after the meeting of the euro zone ministers, and will kick in the debt swap period that will end on March 9.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher by 45.79 points, or 0.35 percent, at 12,949.90. The S&P 500 gained by 3.19 points, or 0.23 percent, at 1,361.23, while the Nasdaq was down by 8.07 points, or 0.27 percent, at 2,951.78.

Indian ADRs closed mixed on Friday, HDFC Bank was up 0.73%, ICICI Bank was up 0.64%, Dr. Reddy’s Lab was up 0.43% and Infosys Technologies was up 0.19%. On the flip side, Tata Motors was down 0.07%.

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