US markets end higher on vaccine news

27 May 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Tuesday as investors were emboldened by fresh coronavirus vaccine news and signs that global economies are crawling back from the pandemic shutdown. Novavax Inc. said it started human trials of its vaccine candidate in Australia. The first phase of the placebo-controlled study will enroll 135 healthy adults and the preliminary round of data from that study is expected in July. Big drugmaker Merck & Co. also said it would soon have two potential vaccines under its umbrella and an experimental drug against the coronavirus, joining rivals in the frantic search for medicines. Investors were focusing on positive signs in the global economy, news of the gradual removal of economic restrictions related to COVID-19 and signs that Americans are beginning to feel safe enough to travel and congregate in larger groups. 

However, amid the race for a medical breakthrough, the World Health Organization’s top health expert warned of a long battle to contain the pandemic. Meanwhile, US-China relations remain tense. Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam brushed aside concerns about a Chinese power grab in the territory, after House national security adviser Robert O’Brien over the weekend threatened to sanction China if it carries through with plans for new national security laws in Hong Kong, where protests have reignited. Also, the US said that a move by China to tighten its grip on Hong Kong could threaten the city’s status as a financial hub.

Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 529.95 points or 2.17 percent to 24,995.11, Nasdaq rose 15.63 points or 0.17 percent 9,340.22 and S&P 500 was up by 36.32 points or 1.23 percent to 2,991.77 .

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