New York (AFP)

Wall Street was moving close to balance Friday shortly after the opening, trying to gauge progress in US-China trade talks.

Its leading index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, was grappling 0.02% around 1455 GMT, to 27,681.11 points.

The Nasdaq, with strong technological coloration, nibbled 0.08%, at 8,440.86 points, and the expanded index S & P 500 yielded 0.01% at 3,084.75 points.

The New York Stock Exchange ended higher on Thursday, investors are optimistic after Chinese statements on the lifting of tariffs that are imposed Beijing and Washington as the two countries strive to finalize a partial agreement on their trade dispute.

The Dow Jones (+ 0.66%) and the S & P 500 (+ 0.27%) ended at a record and the Nasdaq (+ 0.28%) also appreciated.

The tone seemed more measured Friday after the speech of a counselor of the White House.

Peter Navarro, holding a firm line against Beijing, said the Trump administration could postpone the imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods, including electronic goods, scheduled for December 15, but was not ready to revisit existing rates.

"I can confirm that there is no agreement to withdraw (additional) tariffs as a condition of an agreement," Navarro said on NPR radio. "The only person who can make this decision is Donald Trump," he insisted, speaking of "propaganda" on the part of the Chinese, relayed by the press.

According to Patrick O'Hare of Briefing, "the market does not react so negatively to the statements of Mr. Navarro, while he was very enthusiastic after the statements on the lifting of sanctions made yesterday by a spokesman from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. "

"The market continues to believe that an agreement will be signed before the election (US presidential 2020, Editor's note) in order to break the deadlock," the expert continues.

Moreover, investors seemed to welcome the words of the outgoing President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, who said he was convinced that Donald Trump would not impose in the coming days new customs duties on the import of European automobiles.

Among stocks, Disney, a member of the Dow Jones, climbed 4.64% after publishing Thursday after the close of quarterly results better than expected.

Bob Iger, the group's CEO, also announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Amazon to have its new Disney + streaming platform present on its "Fire TV" devices.

In the bond market, the 10-year US rate on the US debt, which had climbed Thursday, continued its progression, standing at 1.924% against 1.917% the day before closing.

© 2019 AFP