New York (AFP)

The New York Stock Exchange ended in disarray Thursday as the US Central Bank unveiled a change in monetary policy that may leave rates low for a long time to come.

Its flagship index, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, gained 0.57% to 28,492.27 points.

The broader S&P 500 index appreciated 0.17% to 3,484.55 points, ending at a new level for the fifth straight session.

The Nasdaq, with strong technological coloring, fell 0.34% to 11,625.34 points.

The US Central Bank (Fed) said on Thursday that inflation could stay above the 2.0% target "for a while" before the Fed had to act by raising interest rates .

Something to reassure investors who have benefited for several years from the low rates of the Fed, currently close to zero, to borrow money at a lower cost.

Fed boss Jerome Powell, speaking at the annual central bankers meeting in Jackson Hole, which usually takes place in Wyoming but this year takes place online, once again hammered the institution was ready to use its "full range of tools" to support the economy.

"There weren't any big surprises," notes Maris Ogg of Tower Bridge Advisors. But for the market, "lower rates for longer is important," she notes.

In addition, Mr. Powell "was" very clear in saying that since the US government could not agree on a budget support plan, the Fed would always respond, "said the specialist." The market has it. well taken. "

If the technology sector suffered a slack Thursday, it is simply according to her "because it had jumped Wednesday". The Nasdaq notably appreciated by 1.73% and finished at a record for the fifth session in a row.

Market players also digested Thursday the announcement of a decline in weekly jobless claims, to one million.

A total of 13.9 million people were receiving unemployment benefit in the past week, down 1.9%.

The US administration has also revised its estimate of the contraction in gross domestic product for the second quarter to -31.7% at an annualized rate against -32.9% previously estimated.

Promises of home sales in the United States for their part increased in July (+ 5.9%) for the third consecutive month, according to the National Federation of Real Estate Agents (NAR).

On the bond market, the 10-year rate on US debt rose to 0.7423% against 0.6884% Wednesday night.

© 2020 AFP