On Friday the US session ended with a slight advance of the stock indices amid the easing of fears regarding the consequences of the monetary policy and assumed deceleration of the economic growth in China. The DJIA rose by 22.3 points, or by 0.2%, to 11204 points. For a week the index increased by 0.1%. Nasdaq Composite edged up 3.72 points, or by 0.2%, to 2518 points, from the beginning of the week the index lost 0.04%. This is the second week in a row when the index entered the negative territory. Standard & Poor’s 500 surged by 3.04 points, or by 0.25%, to 1200 points, having grown by 0.04% during a week.
Boeing shares fell by $1.02, or by 1.6%, to $63.59, Walt Disney securities dropped by $0.57, or by 1.5%, to $37.04.
Hewlett-Packard papers ascended by $0.8, or by 1.9%, to $42.49 ahead of the report for the fourth quarter on Monday.
General Motors shares rose by $0.07, or by 0.2%, to $ 34.26. This was the second day when the company’s shares were traded after IPO. Until the US trading session has started the market was disturbed by news from China – Beijing advanced the reserve rate for banks for the second time in two weeks. On Thursday the quotes dropped amid the fears regarding the toughening of the monetary policy in China, such measures can negatively influence the demand for raw materials. Nevertheless, on Friday the hopes strengthened that the growth rate in China would remain strong, despite the government efforts to restrain the inflation. Also the positive effect on the investors’ sentiment was caused by the comments of the Irish Prime-Minister Brian Cowen, who said that the second day of negotiations on a probable aid package from the European partners was “going well”. The representatives of the EU, ECB and IMF are in Dublin, assessing the Irish finance and banking systems. In addition to the concerns over the Chinese and European economies, the investors doubt about the long-term effects of the FRS bonds purchase program in amount of $600 billion.