US markets surges for second day in a row

13 Apr 2012 Evaluate

The US markets moved higher on Thursday, for the second day in a row sending benchmark indices to the biggest back-to-back gains of the year as investors entertained thoughts of further stimulus from global central banks though the weekly jobless claims rose. The Federal Reserve’s number-two ranking official made the case for keeping interest rates low for some time, arguing the economy will continue to grow only gradually and that the unemployment rate will remain high for years. The Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Janet Yellen and New York Fed President William C. Dudley endorsed the view that borrowing costs will stay low through 2014, with Dudley noting it’s still too soon to conclude that we are out of the woods. William Dudley stated in a speech that the economy is not yet strong enough to make a significant dent in the jobless rate.

Meanwhile, the Labor Department reported claims rose by 13,000 to 380,000, the highest since late January. The number of Americans who applied for jobless benefits last week rose to the highest level in two and a half months, partly because some school workers can file claims during spring break. Weekly jobless claims jumped by 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 380,000 in the week ended April 7, the highest level since late January, the US Labor Department stated. The Fed will meet in two weeks to debate policy after Labor Department reports showed an unexpected increase in jobless claims and growth in payrolls weakening to the slowest in five months in March.

Also, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde stated that the main risk to global growth is a return of Europe’s debt crisis, even as data indicate an improvement in economies including the US. A recent move by European governments to increase their crisis defenses is only part of the solution, Lagarde stated, adding she is hopeful to see progress on her pledge to increase IMF resources when member countries meet in Washington next week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher by 181.19 points, or 1.41 percent, at 12,986.60. The S&P 500 gain 18.86 points, or 1.38 percent, at 1,387.57, while the Nasdaq was up by 39.09 points, or 1.30 percent, at 3,055.55.

Indian ADRs closed in green on Thursday, Tata Motors was up 0.68%, HDFC Bank was up 0.66%, ICICI Bank was up 0.62%, Sterlite Industries was up 0.32% and Infosys Technologies was up 0.30%.

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