The Dow Jones gained 0.12% and the broader S&P 500 index rose 0.07%, while the Nasdaq fell 0.11%.

The indices had started the session more clearly in the green, carried, according to Karl Healing of LBBW, by the technical movement initiated at the end of last week.

“Brokers were focusing on the market's ability to rebound, with the S&P 500 index managing to stay above the average of the last 200 trading days,” which it approached, explained the specialist.

However, the indices gradually took a nosedive from mid-session, with no particular event on the agenda.

"It's probably just a waiting position before the hearings of (Jerome) Powell", the chairman of the Fed, advanced Karl Haeling.

The president of the American central bank must make a presentation and answer questions from American parliamentarians, Tuesday in the Senate and Wednesday in the House of Representatives.

His remarks may give investors insight into how the Fed views inflation and the path of interest rates in the coming months.

For Art Hogan, of B. Riley Wealth Management, Mr. Powell should however maintain a message similar to that of his last interventions, such as at the beginning of February when he said that the Fed "still had work to do" in the face of the inflation.

"But we are never safe from a surprise," said the expert.

Investors are also awaiting the report on the labor market in February in the United States, which is due to be published on Friday.

In January, 517,000 jobs were created, surprising observers who did not expect such a dynamic.

Enough to encourage the Fed to continue to raise its rates, to slow down the economy, and thus be sure to bring in the nails too high inflation.

Investors “are wondering if (the January figures) were the exception or the norm,” remarks Art Hogan.

"If we have figures around 200,000 - 250,000 job creations in February, then that would mean that January was the exception, and that will be good news for the stock market", which generally benefits from a lowering of the rate, adds the specialist.

However, according to him, the possibility of a surprise should not be ruled out, the weather in February having been particularly mild.

On the values ​​side, Tesla fell 2.01%.

After lowering the selling prices of its most popular electric cars, Model 3 and Model Y, in January in order to stimulate demand, the group reduced the prices in the United States of its more expensive models, Model S and Model X.

Silvergate Capital, parent company of Silvergate Bank known for its proximity to the cryptocurrency community, continued its fall (-6.24%) after warning Thursday of a possible cessation of payments in the coming year and suspended Friday evening its Silvergate Exchange Network payments network, which allowed its customers to make transfers around the clock.

Other cryptocurrency-related companies also fell, including the platforms Coinbase (-2.70%) and Robinhood (-1.82%).

The tobacco company Altria appreciated by 1.42%, after announcing the acquisition, for 2.75 billion dollars, of the manufacturer of electronic cigarettes Njoy, a few days after the liquidation of its stake in Juul.

© 2023 AFP