Investors began to doubt when the morale of U.S. households showed slightly degraded. Americans are less optimistic about employment prospects. The index of consumer sentiment fell to 72.5 in March against 73.6 in February.
The effect on U.S. markets was immediate. While in the early exchanges, they open up, already after three consecutive sessions in green, Dow Jones, Nasdaq and S & P 500 are passed into the red.
Around 16:30, they retreat respectively of 0.06%, 0.34% and 0.19%.
This Friday at 14:30, retail sales in the United States have resisted to the bad weather in February.Against all odds, they rose by 0.3% compared to January (in data seasonally adjusted) while analysts felt they had declined by 0.2%.
This supports other new ad, released Thursday, which was rather reassuring, even if they still underscore the difficulties overseas cheapest one. Like the U.S. trade deficit fell to 37.29 billion dollars from 39.9 billion in January. For specialists Barclays Exchange, "it is a pleasant surprise to the extent that economists were expecting a deficit of 41 billion dollars."Other good news side of the labor market "listings weekly unemployment fell to 462,000 from 469,000 the previous week.
Oil prices rose Friday in the opening exchanges in New York on a more optimistic market demand after the new forecast of the International Atomic Energy. The barrel of light sweet crude for April delivery was trading at the opening at 82.97 dollars, up 86 cents from the previous day.
On Wall Street will be sitting under the sign consumer with the publication of sales information for the month of February and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence.Business inventories for the month of January will be published in late afternoon.
Citigroup rose 20% in 4 sessions
On the side of values, the CEO of Citigroup has pledged a return to profitability of the bank. The state could get rid of all of its shares within twelve months. The title of Citigroup rose 30% since the beginning of the month and by 20% since the stock market Monday. Friday, the shares resumed their breath, down from 0.7% to $ 4.15.
For several sessions throughout the banking sector enjoys a renewed interest from investors. On Thursday, he was also concerned by the failure of talks in the U.S. Senate to reform the financial system.After several months of effort, Senator Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, failed to reach an agreement between Republicans and Democrats on this bill to reform the banking system.
In the energy sector, Devon Energy (0.51%, to 72.41 dollars), the specialist production of oil will sell at BP Plc for seven billion dollars of assets located in Brazil, Azerbaijan and Gulf of Mexico.
Note also the manufacturer of semiconductor National Semiconductor announced after the close of the NYSE, a profit of 53.2 million, or 22 cents a share against 18 cents expected by analysts' consensus. Turnover was 361.9 million against 348.6 million expected by analysts. Titles rise of 0.63%, to 14.44 dollars.
