US markets end higher on the back of good economic reports

16 Dec 2011 Evaluate

The US markets ended modestly higher on Thursday, halting a three-day slide, after reports on jobless claims and manufacturing pointed to strength in the US economy. Initial jobless claims filed in the US last week were the lowest since May 2008, the Labor Department stated, the latest indication of strength in the weak jobs market. Also helping sentiments was a gauge of mid-Atlantic manufacturing activity which jumped for December versus the prior month. A slew of other US economic data also cheered investors. US wholesale prices rose slightly in November due to higher food costs, but the underlying rate of increase in producer prices remained tame, indicating little inflation pressure, while the US current account deficit narrowed in the third quarter.

However, US industrial production fell for the first time in seven months during November, an unexpected drop caused by declining output of cars, electronics, clothing, and other products. Besides, Bank of America Corp., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Citigroup Inc. had their credit grades cut by Fitch Ratings. The lenders’ long-term issuer default ratings were cut one level to A from A+, Fitch stated.

In Europe, manufacturing activity in the euro zone contracted at a slower pace than expected in December, while Germany’s preliminary December figures rose versus the previous month. A successful Spanish bond auction also lifted investor spirits.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 45.33 points, or 0.38 percent, to 11,868.80. The Standard and Poor’s 500 closed higher by 3.93 points, or 0.32 percent, to 1,215.75, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1.70 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,541.01.

The Indian ADRs made a mixed closing on Thursday, Dr. Reddys Lab up by 0.44%, Tata Communications was up by 0.31%, Infosys Technologies was up by 0.25% and HDFC Bank was up by 0.14%. On the flip side, Sterlite Industries was down by 0.13%.

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