US markets end higher amid optimism about coronavirus vaccine

19 May 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Monday, on optimism that the American economy might be percolating again, while the medical community works toward a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna (MRNA) reported positive phase one results for a potential coronavirus vaccine. Shares of Moderna spiked by 20 percent after the biotechnology company said an early-stage human trial for a vaccine produced antibodies in all 45 participants. The next step for Moderna is a phase-two trial, which has been approved to move forward by the Food and Drug Administration. The phase-one trial was done in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Meanwhile, support was also tied to remarks by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, striking a more upbeat tone on US growth prospects, while reiterating that the central bank still retained tools to limit the economic downturn. Besides, reflecting the strength in the energy sector, the Philadelphia Oil Service Index soared by 12.5 percent, while the NYSE Arca Oil Index and the NYSE Arca Natural Gas Index jumped by 8.5 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Significant strength was also visible among housing stocks, as reflected by the 9 percent spike by the Philadelphia Housing Sector Index.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 911.95 points or 3.85 percent to 24,597.37, Nasdaq gained 220.27 points or 2.44 percent to 9,234.83 and S&P 500 was up by 90.21 points or 3.15 percent to 2,953.91.

© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×