In the beginning of the week American stock market mostly declined.

Despite the start of vaccination, market participants paid more attention to the lack of compromise between Republicans and Democrats on the new stimulus package. According to media reports, US lawmakers are ready to split the $ 908 billion stimulus package into two parts: the first is a $ 748 billion package aimed at unemployment and assistance to small businesses, which will help support a slowing economy by the end of the year, and the second is a $ 160 billion package that includes controversial measures, including support for local authorities.

On Tuesday major US stock indexes rose more than 1%, mainly due to the sharp rise in the value of Apple shares (AAPL). The company said it is going to significantly increase iPhone production in 2021. Investors also prepared for the last meeting of the Federal Reserve System this year, predicting that the interest rate will remain the same.

The growth continued the following day because of the reports about significant progress on spending bill the day before Tuesday, boosting market participants' hopes for an additional stimulus package in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Reserve unveiled plans for large-scale bond purchases to support the economy but did not make any changes to the corresponding program, which means that there is no increase in monetary stimulus. Fed leaders released new forecasts, according to which most of them expect interest rates to remain close to zero at least until the end of 2023.

The trend continued on Thursday despite disappointing statistics. The Labor Department report showed that initial claims for unemployment benefits were at a seasonally adjusted 885,000 for the week ending December 12, up from 862,000 in the previous week. Economists forecasted 800,000 applications during the last week. The unexpected increase in jobless claims reflects a steady rise in new COVID-19 infections that have hampered business operations, offering further evidence that economic recovery from the pandemic recession is slowing.

On Friday the dynamics changed and the stock market ended the week in the "red zone". The main reason was the growing tension between China and the United States. The US Department of Commerce announced the blacklisting of more than 60 Chinese companies, including China's largest chip maker Semiconductor Manufacturing International (SMIC), to "protect US national security." Market participants also studied the Commerce Department report that showed that the US current account deficit rose sharply in the third quarter, as record consumer spending boosted imports outpacing the export recovery.