US markets end higher as optimism about reopening resurfaces

15 May 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Thursday, snapping a two-session losing streak, as traders once again expressed optimism about states partially reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Adding to the positive sentiment, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo expanded the state's phased reopening to five regions. The regions in upstate and central New York can resume manufacturing, construction and agricultural operations as well curbside pickup at retail stores beginning on Friday. Besides, banking stocks helped lead the way back to the upside, with the KBW Bank Index skyrocketing by 3.9 percent after falling as much as 3.8 percent in early trading. The recovery by banking stocks may partly reflect bargain hunting, as traders picked up the stocks at reduced levels after the index hit its lowest intraday level in well over a month.

On the economic data, a report released by the Labor Department showed steep drops in both import and export prices in the US in the month of April. The Labor Department said import prices plunged by 2.6 percent in April after tumbling by a revised 2.4 percent in March. Street had expected import prices to plummet by 3.1 percent compared to the 2.3 percent slump originally reported for the previous month. Meanwhile, while the Labor Department released a report showing a continued decline in first-time claims for US unemployment benefits in the week ended May 9, the number of new claims still came in well above street estimates. The report said initial jobless claims fell to 2.981 million, a decrease of 195,000 from the previous week's revised level of 3.176 million. Street had expected jobless claims to tumble to 2.5 million from the 3.169 million originally reported for the previous week.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 377.37 points or 1.62 percent to 23,625.34, Nasdaq gained 80.55 points or 0.91 percent to 8,943.72 and S&P 500 was up by 32.5 points or 1.15 percent to 2,852.5.

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