US markets closed lower on weak earnings by JP Morgan

14 Oct 2011 Evaluate

The US markets closed lower on Thursday, with S&P 500 retreating after a three sessions rise, on disappointing earnings from JP Morgan Chase and after Spain had its long-term sovereign-debt rating cut. S&P lowered Spain’s rating to AA- from AA with negative outlook. Also, UBS AG, Lloyds Banking Group Plc and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc had long-term issuer default grades cut by Fitch Ratings, which put more than a dozen other lenders on watch negative as part of a global review. The market mainly edged lower after JP Morgan reported that its net income fell in the third quarter, depressed by lower investment-bank fees. Also, China’s customs bureau reported exports climbed a less-than-expected 17.1% last month from the year-ago period, while Beijing’s trade surplus totaled $14.51 billion, the smallest since May.

However, markets recovered from session lows after Slovakia’s parliament voted to approve an expanded Europe bailout fund. Slovakia is the last of 17 nations needed to give the green light to a more-powerful European Financial Stability Facility. Lawmakers voted 114 to 30 with three abstentions to support the European Financial Stability Facility in the second attempt this week after parliament failed to approve the measures on Oct. 11.

Besides, US economic data had the government’s count of Americans filing claims for jobless benefits last week declining by 1,000 to 404,000 and the US trade deficit little changed at $45.6 billion in August.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 40.72 points, or 0.35 percent, to 11,478.10. The Standard and Poor’s 500 closed lower by 3.59 points, or 0.30 percent, to 1,203.66, while the Nasdaq composite gained 15.51 points, or 0.60 percent, to 2,620.24.

The Indian ADRs closed mixed on Thursday, HDFC Bank was down by 0.45%, Infosys Technologies was down by 0.43% and Tata Motors was down by 0.29%. On the flip side, Tata Communication was up by 0.02% and MTNL was up by 0.01%.

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