The number of Americans who first applied for unemployment benefits increased by 6 thousand last week and reached 260 thousand people, according to a report from the US Department of Labor. Analysts, on average, also expected a rise to 260k from the previous week's previously announced level.
For clear guidance, investors should also wait for US nonfarm payrolls (NFP) data for July, expected to reach 250K, up from 372K earlier. It is also important to monitor the global reaction to China's strong military exercises near Taiwan.
The US trade deficit fell by 6.2% in June to $79.6 billion, according to the country's Department of Commerce. According to the revised data, in May, the negative trade balance amounted to $84.9 billion, and not $85.5 billion, as previously reported. Experts on average expected a decline to $80.1 billion.
The value of the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 16:47 GMT+3 rose by 0.03% - up to 32821.17 points.
Standard & Poor's 500 added 0.1% to 4159.39 points.
The Nasdaq Composite increased 0.4% to 12,719.37 points.
U.S. health insurance and services company Cigna Corp. posted a 6% increase in net income in the second quarter and improved its guidance for the full year of 2022. Its shares are up 3.7%.
eBay Inc. stocks cheaper by 4.9%. The world's largest online auction recorded a net loss in the second quarter of 2022 and reduced revenue. However, the latter figure, along with adjusted earnings, beat market expectations.
Papers of Booking Holdings Inc. drop by 4%, although the company that owns various travel planning services returned to profitable levels in the second quarter of 2022 as the market recovered from the coronavirus pandemic.
American oil company ConocoPhillips increased its net profit by 2.5 times in the second quarter due to rising oil prices and increased production and announced its intention to increase payments to shareholders by $5 billion, that is, up to $15 billion. Meanwhile, its shares are depreciating by 1.1%.
Share price of WeWork Inc. decreases by 4.8%. The American co-working service reduced its net loss in the second quarter of 2022 and increased revenue by more than a third, but the figures fell short of analysts' expectations.
Papa John's International is down 1.7%, although the pizza chain owner returned to profitability in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 with a modest increase in revenue and an increase in annual dividends.
Shares of Shake Shack Inc. fall by 13.8%. The American fast food chain again suffered a loss in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, and the company's revenue increased weaker than expected.
Walmart Inc. shares are down 0.3%. The nation's largest retailer is laying off hundreds of corporate management employees as part of a plan to restructure operations.
