US markets end higher on Wednesday

31 Oct 2019 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Wednesday as traders reacted positively to the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision. The Fed announced its decision to lower interest rates for the third straight meeting. The Fed announced its widely expected decision to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 percent. The quarter point rate cut follows two matching moves at the Fed's meetings in September and July, which marked the first rate cuts in over a decade. The Fed's accompanying statement removed a key line indicating the central bank would continue to act as appropriate to sustain the expansion. The line was included in each of the Fed's three previous statements and was seen as pointing toward a near-term rate cut. The Fed said it would continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook as it assesses the appropriate path of the target range for the federal funds rate.

Besides, traders largely shrugged off the release of some upbeat US economic data, including the Commerce Department's first reading on third quarter GDP. The Commerce Department report showed US economic growth slowed much less than expected in the third quarter. The report said real gross domestic product increased by 1.9 percent in the third quarter after climbing by 2.0 percent in the second quarter. Street had expected GDP growth to slow to 1.7 percent. Moreover, payroll processor ADP released a separate report showing US private sector employment increased by 125,000 jobs in October compared to economist estimates for an increase of about 120,000 jobs. However, the report also showed private sector job growth in September was downwardly revised to 93,000 from the previously reported addition of 135,000 jobs.

Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 115.27 points or 0.43 percent to 27186.69, Nasdaq rose 27.12 points or 0.33 percent to 8303.97 and S&P 500 was up by 9.88 points or 0.33 percent to 3046.77.

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