Around 2:50 p.m. GMT, the Dow Jones offered 0.29%, the Nasdaq index gained 0.71% and the broader S&P 500 index took 0.56%.

"The mood seems quite optimistic," commented Jack Ablin of Cresset Capital.

"The trend is up, thanks to the prevailing sentiment that the economy and inflation are slowing, which will help the Fed (US central bank) to understand that it no longer needs to raise rates much more" , explained, in a note, Patrick O'Hare, of Briefing.com.

The series of indicators published in January constitutes "a good surprise", which comes on the heels of an end to the year 2022 marked by "general gloom", observes Jack Ablin.

The bond market evolved in dispersed order.

The yield on 10-year US government bonds eased to 3.57% against 3.61% the day before, but short rates themselves rose.

The positive difference between the 3-month rate and its 10-year equivalent reached its highest level since 1981 on Wednesday. Considered a strong marker, it announces, for operators, a slowdown in the economy and a possible fall in medium-term interest rates.

The decline in long rates and the general atmosphere, more favorable to risk taking than the last weeks of 2022, benefited technology stocks, such as Amazon (+3.14%), Alphabet (+1.45%) or Microsoft (+1.55%).

The indices are approaching important thresholds, in particular the average of the last 200 trading days for the S&P 500, at 3,990.21 points.

A passage above this bar would be a strong signal for the New York market.

“We are starting to see indicators switch,” notes Jack Ablin.

"The dollar in particular", which on Wednesday recorded a seven-month low against the euro.

"It's a positive sign that suggests the Fed is done (with its rate hikes) or that we're looking at the end of a cycle. It could be an opening for equities."

“We are about to enter a pivotal period for the market, which will begin with the publication of the CPI (price) index on Thursday and will continue, in the coming weeks, with the results of the fourth quarter” 2022 for companies. listed, recalled Patrick O'Hare.

The CPI index is expected to fall by 0.1% over one month in December, with an annual rate of 6.5%, against 7.1% in November.

On the stock market, the major American airlines were on the rise despite the temporary halt, at the start of the morning, of all flight departures from American territory, following a computer failure of the global pilot information system. and crews, according to the US civil aviation regulator (FAA).

Around 2:00 p.m. GMT, the FAA announced the lifting of this suspension and the resumption of air traffic.

American Airlines (+0.89%), Southwest Airlines (+0.21%), Delta Air Lines (+1.08%) and United Airlines (+1.55%) all gained altitude.

Tesla continued its recovery (+ 2.57% to 121.90 dollars), while, according to the Wall Street Journal, the automaker plans to invest 775 million dollars in expansion work at its Austin plant, in Texas.

The New York-listed WWE professional wrestling league title was blowing (-0.75% to $89.57) after rising more than 30% in a week, buoyed by the return of former boss Vince McMahon as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Forced to resign in July after being accused of sexual harassment, the septuagenarian, who is still the reference shareholder, has imposed himself back at the helm, with the ambition of helping WWE find a buyer. and negotiate his new broadcast contract in the United States.

© 2023 AFP