US markets end higher as Fed pledges to buy corporate bonds

16 Jun 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Monday after the Federal Reserve announced plans to begin buying a broad and diversified portfolio of corporate bonds to support market liquidity and the availability of credit for large employers. The Fed said it will buy up to $750 million worth of corporate bonds to create a corporate bond portfolio that is based on a broad, diversified market index of US corporate bonds. The index will be made up of all the bonds in the secondary market that have been issued by US companies that satisfy the facility's minimum rating, maximum maturity, and other criteria. Further, sentiments were also upbeat as traders continued to express optimism about the economy as the New York Federal Reserve released a report showing regional manufacturing activity steadied in June after seeing sharp contractions in April and May. 

The New York Fed said its general business conditions index spiked to negative 0.2 in June from negative 48.5 in May. A negative reading indicates a contraction in regional manufacturing activity. The jump by the index far exceeded the estimates of participants, who had expected the index to surge up to negative 27.5. However, upside remained capped amid concerns about a second wave of coronavirus infections after Beijing recorded a spate of new Covid-19 cases in a major wholesale food market. Data compiled by the New York Times also showed a recent increase in coronavirus cases in more than 20 states, including California, Florida, and Nevada. Texas and North Carolina also reported a record number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations on Saturday, adding to worries that businesses reopening may drive a second wave.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 157.62 points or 0.62 percent to 25,763.16, Nasdaq gained 137.21 points or 1.43 percent 9,726.02 and S&P 500 was up by 25.28 points or 0.83 percent to 3,066.59. 

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