US markets closed mostly higher on earnings reports

13 Feb 2013 Evaluate

The US markets closed mostly higher on Tuesday, Dow and S&P 500 ended at levels not seen in more than five years, mostly led by the financial sector and as investors digested another round of earnings reports. President Barack Obama in the State of the Union addressed that the United States must take steps to aid the middle class. Obama tried to put budget battles with Republicans in Congress behind him, urging them to join him in the common ground of a creating a stronger economy. To help create jobs, Obama announced he would start talks on a possible free trade deal with the European Union. Obama added that his proposals would be consistent with the budget framework hammered out with congressional Republicans in the summer of 2011. Meanwhile, Kansas City Fed President Esther George stated that the Federal Reserve may cause problems for the economy when it begins to sell the securities it is buying in an effort to support the economic recovery. George was the only voter to dissent at the Federal Reserve’s last interest-rating meeting. George raised concern that the increased balance sheet and low interest rates could defeat the goal of encouraging stable growth without higher inflation.

Besides, Dennis Lockhart, president of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank stated that the US economy will continue along its sluggish growth path this year. Lockhart forecast the economy would grow this year at an annual rate of 2% and 2.5%. Although there are hopeful signs, such as housing and the energy sector, consumers are still constrained by high debt, Lockhart added. On the economy front, a measure of small-business sentiment saw a slight gain in January, helped by an increase in the number who expects the economy to improve. The National Federation of Independent Business stated its small-business optimism index edged up 0.9 points to 88.9. Even though there was a five-point advance in those who expect the economy to improve, at -30%, that component was the fourth-worst on record.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 47.46 points or 0.34 percent to 14,018.70, the Nasdaq lost 5.51 points or 0.17 percent to 3,186.49 and the S&P 500 was up by 2.42 points or 0.16 percent to 1,519.43.

Indian ADRs closed mostly in green on Tuesday, Tata Motors was up 1.63%, HDFC Bank was up 0.83%, Infosys was up by 0.43% and ICICI Bank was up 0.41%. On the flip side, Dr. Reddy’s Lab was down 0.05%.

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