New York (AFP)

The New York Stock Exchange ended in dispersed order on Thursday, continuing to react to new information about the spread of a Chinese virus while digesting a salvo of results from large companies.

Its flagship index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, fell 0.09% to end at 29,160.09 points while the Nasdaq, with its strong technological coloring, appreciated by 0.20% to end at 9,402.48 points , a new record.

The S&P 500, which represents the 500 largest companies on Wall Street, gained 0.11% to 3,325.54 points.

The Stock Exchange "has clearly reacted to the headlines on the virus," said Karl Haeling of LBBW.

"We were down sharply this morning when the Chinese authorities announced that they were going to confine several cities, to varying degrees," he said.

Beijing has notably decided that no more trains or planes should in principle leave Wuhan, a city of 11 million inhabitants at the heart of the epidemic which since December has infected more than 570 people and left 18 dead.

But "the clues resumed when the World Health Organization deemed it too early" to declare that the virus that has started to spread around the world constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern", remarks Mr. Haeling.

It is the "uncertainty" linked to this epidemic and its possible consequences that makes brokers feverish, according to him.

"If the Chinese stock markets ended in sharp fall", of 2.75% in Shanghai and 3.45% in Shenzhen, "it is also because many investors do not want to take risks before the New Year celebrations Chinese, during which the Chinese financial centers will be closed for a week, "said the specialist.

While the results season is in full swing, Thursday also brought its share of various performances.

For example, "Dow Jones member Procter & Gamble (-0.46%) released sales below expectations, Comcast (-3.77%) exceeded forecasts, Southwest Airlines (+ 3.59%) highlighted the negative impact of the flight ban on the 737 Max, Union Pacific (+ 3.46%) posted lower profits than expected and Texas Instruments (+ 0.68 %) did better than expected, "say analysts at Charles Schwab.

The insurer Travelers (-5.06%) also weighed on the Dow Jones, of which it is a member, after having announced a profit and a turnover exceeding expectations but of disappointing net premiums, while that American Airlines jumped 5.42%.

On the bond market, the 10-year rate on the US debt continued to decline, moving to 1.731% around 9:30 p.m. GMT against 1.769% on Wednesday at the close.

© 2020 AFP