US benchmark equity indexes ended mixed Friday as markets weighed the latest corporate earnings and economic data. US durable goods orders fell in September, weighed down by sharp declines in defense and civilian aircraft, according to government data. "Pop the hood and the September durable goods report reveals encouraging signs of life away from the gloom of nondefense aircraft orders," BMO said in a report.
"Many months of brutal Boeing order declines have pushed nondefense aircraft orders down 43.9% from a year ago." US consumer sentiment rose to its highest level since April, while long-term inflation expectations eased, final results from the University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers showed. December West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed up $1.69 to settle at $71.78 per barrel, while December Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $1.61 to $75.99 as supply remains robust and Chinese demand remains light.
Deckers Outdoor shares jumped over 10% after the company delivered a fiscal Q2 beat late Thursday. McDonald's fell 3% after US health authorities said that the number of E. coli cases potentially linked to the fast-food giant's Quarter Pounder hamburger increased to 75 across 13 US states as of Thursday, adding that the actual number of sick people could be "much higher.".