New York (AFP)

The New York Stock Exchange ended without clear direction Thursday, in a market supported by its technological giants but thwarted by the number of new coronavirus infections in the United States and its possible consequences on the country's economy.

Its flagship index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, lost 1.39% to 25,706.09 points and the broad S&P 500 index lost 0.56% to 3,152.05 points.

On the other hand, the Nasdaq reached its 26th record of the year and its fifth record of July by finishing at 10,547.75 points (+ 0.53%).

The highly technological index of the New York market benefited from the good health of several of its behemoths, including the famous Gafam, namely Google, whose parent company Alphabet took 1.00%, Amazon (+3 , 29%), Facebook (+ 0.38%), Apple (+ 0.36%) and Microsoft (+ 0.70%).

However, Charles Schwab analysts say, the market is "cautious about the uncertainty that surrounds the consequences of the continued spate of new Covid-19 cases in the United States."

Better than expected weekly figures on unemployment benefit claimants in the United States were not enough to reassure investors on Thursday.

The country registered 1.314 million new jobless claims in one week, down from the previous week and slightly less than expected by analysts, according to data released by the labor department.

In total, 18 million people touched unemployment in the country, also down from the previous week but at a level which remains still particularly high: last year at the same period, 1.7 million Americans received unemployment benefit.

In addition, market participants seemed to increasingly doubt the chances of Donald Trump, whose probusiness measures benefited the business community, being re-elected in November, according to Sam Stovall of CFRA.

The United States Supreme Court on Thursday inflicted a setback on the American president, ruling that a New York prosecutor was entitled to claim the accounting records of the White House tenant, including his tax returns, while blocking, for the moment, their transfer to Congress.

"There are cracks in its defense strategy," said Stovall.

On the bond market, the 10-year rate on the US debt fell, to 0.6053% around 20.20 GMT against 0.6644% Wednesday evening.

© 2020 AFP