US Indices Started The Day With a Decrease

US indices started the day with a decrease. Negative unemployment data were reflected in indices as a decrease.

Indices started the day with a decline as a result of applications for unemployment salaries, which were much higher than expectations. At the beginning of the day, the Dow Jones index lost its value over 200 points and was traded at 31,398.20 points, decreasing by 0.68 percent. The S&P 500 index fell 0.72 percent to 3,903.10 points, while the Nasdaq index fell 1.06 percent to 13,816.91 points. The number of applicants for unemployment benefits for the first time in the country increased to 861 thousand in the week ending February 13, contrary to market expectations. In addition, worrying levels of electricity and heating continued in some states due to freezing temperatures that paralyzed the interior and southern parts of the USA. While power generation centers interrupted production due to the harsh weather conditions in the region, the electricity of many homes and workplaces was cut off. In Texas, oil producers and refineries had to temporarily halt their operations or reduce their capacity due to harsh weather conditions. The idea that crude oil production in Texas, the world's largest oil producer, could be disrupted for weeks played a big role in the rise of prices.