US markets end higher as investors weigh optimism over quick recovery for economy

23 Jun 2020 Evaluate

The US markets ended higher on Monday, with Nasdaq closing higher for the seventh straight session, reaching a new record closing high, as investors weighed optimism over a quick recovery for the domestic economy, or V-shaped rebound, against evidence of an acceleration of COVID-19 infections in half of all US states and elsewhere in the world. Investors have become upbeat about better-than-expected US economic data and hopes that Congress will pass another nearly $1 trillion fiscal stimulus package this summer. Traders shrugged off a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) showing a continued nosedive in existing home sales in May. NAR said existing home sales plunged by 9.7 percent to an annual rate of 3.91 million in May after plummeting by 17.8 percent to a rate of 4.33 million in April. Street had expected existing home sales to slump by 4.8 percent to a rate of 4.12 million.

Existing home sales declined for the third straight month and are down by 26.6 percent compared to the same month a year ago. NAR's chief economist -- Lawrence Yun said sales completed in May reflect contract signings in March and April - during the strictest times of the pandemic lockdown and hence the cyclical low point. He added home sales will surely rise in the upcoming months with the economy reopening, and could even surpass one-year-ago figures in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, The World Health Organization on Sunday reported the largest single-day increase in global COVID-19 cases, more than 183,000. In US, there are 24 states that showed an increasing trend in cases this past week, with California, Texas and Florida continuing to lead the way, each with more than 4,000 new cases on Sunday alone. The global tally for COVID-19 has topped 9 million.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 153.5 points or 0.59 percent to 26,024.96, Nasdaq gained 110.35 points or 1.11 percent 10,056.47 and S&P 500 was up by 20.12 points or 0.65 percent to 3,117.86.

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