US markets close mixed after a volatile day of trade amid Fed stimulus bets

21 Sep 2011 Evaluate

The US markets made a mixed closing on Tuesday, amid concern that international officials won’t make a decision on Greece’s next aid payment until October. Though the indexes advanced sharply at the opening but lost all the gains by the close as Wall Street looked for signs of resolution to Europe’s debt crisis and for steps from the Federal Reserve to spur the economy. The Fed’s two-day policy meeting, concluding Wednesday, could have the central bank taking additional steps to bolster the economy. Many expect the Federal Open Market Committee to opt for a move known as Operation Twist, which would involve the central bank selling shorter-term notes and buying longer-term Treasury bonds in an effort to bend the yield curve.

Wall Street offered little reaction to a Commerce Department report that US housing starts fell 5% in August, illustrating a still troubled industry. Housing starts fell 5% to an annual rate of 571,000 last month, the lowest level in three months, according to Commerce Department data.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund lowered its economic outlook for the US and Europe. The multilateral institution slashed the outlook for the US economic growth to 1.5% from 2.5% estimate in the June. The Fund also lowered economic growth estimate for the European Union of 17 nations to 1.6% from the previous estimate of 2%.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 7.65 points, or 0.07 percent, to 11,408.70. The Standard and Poor's 500 closed lower by 2.00 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,202.09, while the Nasdaq composite lost 22.59 points, or 0.86 percent, to 2,590.24.

the Indian ADRs closed mixed on Tuesday, ICICI Bank was up by 0.69%, Infosys Technologies was up by 0.51% and HDFC Bank was up by 0.31%. On the flip side, Patni Computer was down by 0.09% and Sterlite Industries was down by 0.02%.

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