US markets end sharply higher on Wednesday

05 Mar 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended sharply higher on Wednesday, more than offsetting the steep losses posted in the previous session, as investors warmed to the Federal Reserve’s surprise interest rate cut and support from other central banks, as well as former Vice President Joe Biden emerging as the frontrunner of the Democratic Party’s presidential race. Adding to the positive sentiment, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) released a report showing service sector growth unexpectedly accelerated to a one-year high in February. The ISM said its non-manufacturing index climbed to 57.3 in February from 55.5 in January, with a reading above 50 indicating growth in service sector activity. The increase by the reading on service sector activity came as a surprise to participants, who had expected the index to edge down to 54.9. With the unexpected uptick, the non-manufacturing index reached its highest level since hitting 58.5 in February of 2019.

A separate report from payroll processor ADP released showed private sector employment increased by more than expected in the month of February, although the report also showed a notable downward revision to the surge in jobs in the previous month. ADP said private sector employment climbed by 183,000 jobs in February compared to street estimates for an increase of about 170,000 jobs. However, the report also showed the spike in jobs in January was downwardly revised to 209,000 from the previously reported 291,000.

Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,173.45 points or 4.53 percent to 27,090.86, Nasdaq gained 334 points or 3.85 percent to 9,018.09 and S&P 500 was up by 126.75 points or 4.22 percent to 3,130.12.

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