The US markets closed higher at fresh records on Monday, aided by a jump in oil prices and a pullback in the dollar, giving the Dow industrials, S&P 500 and Nasdaq their third simultaneous all-time closing highs this year. Stronger oil prices and a moderation of dollar strength are providing relief for the market, along with a return to earnings growth. Additionally, with the market pricing in a December interest-rate increase from the Federal Reserve, positive economic data is becoming a tailwind for stocks. On the economy front, a measure of national economic activity improved in October but its less-volatile, three-month average weakened - one sign that below-potential economic growth could limit Fed aggressiveness with interest-rate hikes. The Chicago Fed national activity index rose to negative 0.08 in October from negative 0.23 in September as factory production, housing and consumer spending, as well as the business orders that make up the index mostly improved; employment had a neutral effect. The October reading still shows US economic growth running below its potential. And the index’s three-month moving average, which tends to offer a clearer picture of the trend in economic activity than the monthly reading alone, weakened to negative 0.27 in October from a revised negative 0.20 in September.
Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer stated that fiscal policy can do more to help the economy and even lift interest rates. Fischer added that while there is disagreement about what the most effective policies would be, some combination of improved public infrastructure, better education, more encouragement for private investment, and more effective regulation all likely have a role to play in promoting faster growth of productivity and living standards. By raising equilibrium interest rates, such policies may also reduce the probability that the economy, and the Federal Reserve, will have to contend more than is necessary with the effective lower bound on interest rates. Fischer sounded more enthusiastic about the benefit of fiscal stimulus than Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen did last week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 88.76 points or 0.47 percent to 18,956.69, Nasdaq was up 47.35 points or 0.89 percent to 5,368.86, while S&P 500 gained 16.28 points or 0.75 percent to 2,198.18.
The Indian ADRs closed mostly in red; HDFC Bank was down by 2.07%, Dr. Reddy’s Lab was down 0.78% and Tata Motors was down 0.15%. On the other hand, Infosys was up 0.11% and Wipro was up 0.03%.
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